It’s not easy being Ravichandran Ashwin. Having played all four Tests during his first tour of the West Indies in 2016, he was benched in both Tests in 2019.

Being ignored for an important Test or series is nothing new for the off-spinner since the early days of his career. More recently, the top-ranked Test bowler didn't find a place in the India XI in both the World Test Championship finals in England. But Ashwin has learnt to take the good and the bad in his stride.

Last month Ashwin could only watch helplessly from the sidelines as India surrendered the advantage to Australia on the opening day at The Oval. Back in the side in the Caribbean, Ashwin got into his rhythm quickly recording a five-for — his 33rd in Test cricket — on Day I at Windsor Park in Dominica to launch India’s next WTC cycle.

Ashwin said it was his “constant search for excellence” that has held him “in good stead”.

“There’s no human being or cricketer who has gone through the highs without the lows,” he said after the first day’s play. “When you have lows, it gives you two chances — either you sulk and complain about it and go along and go down, or you learn from it.

“I am someone who’s constantly learnt from my lows. In fact the best thing that’s happened after this good day that I’ve had is that I’ll have a good meal, talk to my family and then go to bed and forget about it because when you’ve had a good day you know you’ve had a good day, but there are areas you can work on and get better for tomorrow.

“So this constant search for excellence has held me in good stead all the time but it’s also been incredibly draining. It’s not a journey that’s very easy. It’s been draining, but I’m very thankful for all the lows that have come my way because without the lows there are no highs in your life.

“All I would tell anybody is... the first time I met Rahul Dravid as a coach, he made this statement: ‘It’s not about how many wickets you take, how many runs you score. You’ll forget about all of them. It is only the great memories you create as a team that’ll stick with you.’ I’m totally behind that.”

Ashwin said that even though he went for the WTC final with a lot of physical and mental preparations, he was also prepared to be left out.

“As a cricketer it’s very tough that you have a shot at the WTC final, sitting out, all that is fine... But what’s the difference between me and another youngster or person if I also end up sulking inside the dressing room…

“I was mentally prepared to play with my preparations, but I was also prepared to be not playing. If I’m not playing, then how do I respond? How do I make sure the team dressing room is really up and about because winning the WTC final is the most important thing and it could be a very high point in my career and I would have played a good role in it.

“It was just unfortunate it didn’t pan out; the first day left us too much behind in the shed. But what’s the difference between me and another person who’s going to sulk? So all I’d like to give my team and teammates and Indian cricket is some understanding and my best efforts on the field and that’s where I’d like to leave it and draw a line.

“There’s so much international cricket, IPL, leagues these days around the world that it’s important for us to stay in the present. I do a lot of other things surrounding cricket, there are some teams to look after at home as well.

“I always try to stay in the present. What happened in the WTC final was very sad because we couldn’t win, and it was the second final in a row. Out here it was very important for me to start the series well, stay in the present and do well. I got lucky, I had a really good first spell which set up the spell later on.”