ENG vs IND | Ravichandran Ashwin happy to see Pujara back in the Test side

India's ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is happy to see his teammate Cheteshwar Pujara earning his spot back in the Test side after being dropped for the Sri Lanka series at home.

The off-spinning all-rounder did not feature in any of the four Tests which were played in England last year, even though he was part of the squad. With all-rounder, Jadeja getting the nod over him as team India took a 2-1 lead before the fifth Test in Manchester was rescheduled to July 1-5 at Edgbaston this year.

Ashwin talks about his mental strength

Speaking about the tough tour to England last year, the off-spinner said he has forgotten what has happened, and he's looking to carry forward the good things.

"I have had my own mental conditioning coach. I have gone through a lot personally, and I tend to forget things very quickly now. So, what's happened last year in England I have forgotten it; only the good things I try to carry forward," said Ravichandran Ashwin on the sidelines of an event held recently in Mumbai.

Ashwin wants India to win the rescheduled fifth Test against England so that he can say that he was part of the team that won the Test series in Australia and England.

"I will be so happy and gunning for the team to win 3-1 because I can turn back and say I was in an Indian team which won in Australia and England. Unfortunately, we couldn't win in South Africa, so that's what I want."

"I have been taught cricket very differently. You can't challenge conditions; if the conditions are against you, you have to make the best choices. Somewhere I feel these things go out of the window, and personal vendetta does come through, and that's why I have this habit of saying, 'okay forget things and move on," said Ashwin.

He gives an insight into what makes Pujara so special

The Tamil Nadu-based cricketer further stated that India's Test specialist- Pujara, has done a very thankless job at number 3.

"(Cheteshwar) Pujara was a thoroughbred Test cricketer always. Sometimes it's just my thought process. In India, IPL is the biggest stage at this point of time, and sometimes… we can tend to get carried away by the stage. Pujara has remained authentic.

With respect to all that, we need to understand that he has done a very thankless job. He walks in at No 3; he doesn't complain; he keeps grinding it out. I am so glad he went and made runs and earned his place back in the side. At the end of the day, good guys should win; they shouldn't finish last."

After recovering from COVID-19, Ashwin bagged two wickets in the final innings of the warm-up match against Leicestershire. However, it's yet to be seen whether India's ace spinner will be selected in the playing eleven for the fifth Test or not.

England and India would lock horns in the rescheduled fifth Test from the 2021 series, starting from July 1.