Indian Cricket Team asserted their dominance over the Aussies in the 1st Test match. The visitors suffered a reality check as they lost the Test Match by an innings & 132 runs. It looked like Rohit Sharma’s brigadier was on a mission from ball 1 of the Test Match
In India and the subcontinent in general, the role is invaluable and we got to witness the same magic of spin in the first test of the Border-Gavaskar series in Nagpur. The amazing trio of Ashwin, Jadeja, and Axar showed their brilliance with both the bat and the ball. While it also marked a huge milestone for Ravichandran Ashwin in his career.
“We are still not celebrating him enough”-Aakash Chopra
In the test that was highly defined by the quality of spin and its techniques, all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin came out as the most successful bowler with 8 wickets and registered his name in the 450+ wicket-takers class in test cricket alongside the great Anil Kumble from India. Former Indian batter Aakash Chopra was all praises and said on his YouTube channel that he is one of the best the country has ever produced.
“Ravichandran Ashwin has picked up 450 wickets and unfortunately, we are still not celebrating him enough. Just like Rohit Sharma the Test opener, similarly Ravichandran Ashwin the Test bowler. One of the biggest match-winners that India has ever produced. Kumble sahab and then Ravichandran Ashwin.” said Aakash Chopra.
“When you talk to a lot of cricketers, they say that these pitches are very bad, if you bowl here you will get wickets. Not everyone gets wickets. Four to five spinners play in a match, he still picks up the most wickets. I think he is a gun player.“ he added.
Skillful hands with the smartest mind
Arguably one of the best spinners the country has ever produced in the long format Ashwin’s contribution with not just the ball but the bat can never be overlooked. The long years of experience in mastering his off-spin talent what differentiates the bowler is his sharp mind and ability to foresee and change his tactics according to the batters, something that we saw in the first test against Australian wicket-keeper Alex Carey.
Ashwin is the ninth-highest wicket-taker ever. He has scalped 457 wickets at an excellent average of 24.05 in 89 Tests. He is the second fastest to the 450-wicket mark in terms of the number of Tests, only behind the Legend Muttiah Muralitharan.
While with the bat Ashwin has 5 centuries to his name one less than the Great MS Dhoni, far more graceful than his average suggests (27.37 runs). Ashwin in the past two years has racked up some impressive innings, including a hundred on a turner at Chepauk and a pair of half-centuries in gutsy lower-order comebacks that have become a repeating theme. Which makes us question is he appreciated enough?