Ashwin says chase won't be easy as we have to bat really well against New Zealand

NEW DELHI: Veteran Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin expressed concerns about the team's ability to chase approximately 150 runs on the unusual Wankhede pitch, which exhibits varying behaviour from both ends.
The New Zealand side concluded day two with a score of 171 for 9 in their second innings, establishing an overall advantage of 143 runs. Former Indian captain and coach Anil Kumble, among others, considers this target significant, particularly considering the pitch conditions.
"Hopefully not many, we should wrap it up with one or two runs here and there. Any runs saved in this innings is going to be much more critical. It's not going to be easy, we'll have to bat really well," said Ashwin, while talking on Jio Cinema, after the end of day's play.
Ashwin was taken aback by the unexpected lack of bounce, a characteristic not typically associated with Mumbai's red soil pitches that normally facilitate the ball's upward trajectory.
"Expected a lot more bounce. It has been quite slow which is a surprise. It's not a typical Bombay pitch, much slower."
Ashwin, widely recognised as India's 'bowling scientist', provided insights into his use of the carrom ball technique. This specialised delivery, executed by flicking with two fingers, creates an opposite directional turn.
The same bowling variation proved effective against Glenn Phillips, who struggled to anticipate the ball's trajectory from Ashwin's hand position.
"The game itself is divided into two halves. The one from the pavilion end and from the other end, it's slightly behaving differently. It's slightly flatter from the one where we are bowling from the dressing room side, the bounce is much lesser. So I thought I will try and use it the other way.
"The (NZ) batters are also knowing that it's easier to take me on from this side. So I wanted to give something different," he gave his reasons.
On his brilliant catch running 19 metres sideways to pouch in-from Daryl Mitchell, Ashwin said that he trusted his hands.
"For all the flak you've given me overs the years (to Dinesh Karthik), I don't think I've dropped many. I have got great hands and I trusted it. I was just telling myself that it's going to anyway leave me, I wanted to get as close to the ball as possible," he concluded.