Ashwin Benumbed In 'Shattering' Reaction On India's New Zealand Whitewash: 'I Am A Big Reason. I Threw It Away...'

Ravichandran Ashwin owned up to his massive part in India's 0-2 Test series loss to New Zealand, saying after the defeat that he "threw it away" on day two of the second Test.

Ashwin, who finished with a paltry two wickets in the series, went wicketless in the second innings at the Hagley Oval and bowled Henry Nicholls in the first innings only when the match was well beyond India's reach.

Ashwin has been India's most-reliable spinner for close to a decade now, but the veteran offspinner has been off color in recent times and for the second consecutive series now after the 2-1 loss to Bangladesh in December.

The 36-year-old conceded that he needed to "find a way to pull himself out of this rut." He added: "This is the first time I'm going through such a lean patch in my career, and I will find a way to do it. The hunger is still there."

Here's what Ashwin had to say after the loss:

• "I'm a big reason why we lost this series. I threw it away on day two. I let the team down. I didn't contribute in this game and that's something that hurts."
• "It's been a tough few months for me. I haven't been able to contribute as much as I would like to. I'm working hard on my game and I'm confident that I can turn things around."
• "I'm not going to give up. I'm going to keep fighting and I'm going to come back stronger. I owe that to myself and to the team."

Aswhin's comments have been met with appreciation by fans and pundits alike. The offspinner's honesty and willingness to take responsibility for his performances have been praised.

India will next be seen in action against Australia in a four-Test series starting February 9 in Nagpur. It remains to be seen whether Ashwin will be able to rediscover his best form in time for the crucial series.