Ashwin relishes five-wicket haul more than hundred

Despite belting all of his four centuries against the West Indies, including two in the just-concluded Test series, Indian premier off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has revealed that he extracts more satisfaction from taking a five-wicket haul rather than scoring a hundred.

When asked if batting or bowling gives him the most satisfaction, Ashwin, who was adjudged the Man of the Series for his all round performance in the series, said, "Personally, I always enjoy my five-wicket haul more than a hundred. It is about the context of the game rather than about getting runs and wickets."

Ashwin played a pivotal role in the four-match series, which India won 2-0 as the bowling all-rounder accumulated 235 runs and grabbed 17 wickets, including two five-wicket haul.

Insisting that the pursuit for excellence drives him now, the 29-year-old said that the hard work he had done back home had paid him in the West Indies tour.

"I have always maintained that expectation helps one reach greater heights. Personally, I expected this kind of series, not necessarily where I get two hundreds. I knew batting contribution would be very important. I had no idea I would be batting at number six before I got here. I put in the hard work without any expectation back home for a month and a half and it really paid off. I hope I can keep live up to the expectations and keep winning games for the country," Ashwin said after the abandonment of the fourth Test due to wet outfield at the Queen's Park Oval.

Commenting on his hundreds against the West Indies, Ashwin quipped, "I need to give the credit to the West Indies. They have put me in a situation where I could get a hundred. Most of the teams end up giving hundreds to top-order batsmen. West Indies dismissed the top-order and gave me the opportunity to get hundred and obviously it is a psychological thing."

India will now travel to Florida to play two T20s against the West Indies, starting from Saturday.