Ravichandran Ashwin held the tail together and played his shots to get to his fifty and took India past 400. Indian batter-commentator Dinesh Karthik showered praises on Ravichandran Ashwin for his scintillating batting display of 56 of 78 deliveries including 8 boundaries.
Team India went into the Second Test match against the West Indies in Trinidad, hoping for a whitewash win against the hosts. India was propelled to an impressive score of 438, thanks to an impressive hundred by Virat Kohli on his 500th international match and batting displays by captain Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravindra Jadeja, and Ravichandran Ashwin, who all scored the fifties.
He does something, more often it’s with the ball, but there are many occasions that he’s done so well with the bat – Dinesh Karthik
Dinesh Karthik was speaking to Cricbuzz and was highly impressed by Ravi Ashwin’s performance in Test Cricket. Karthik remembered his days in the past when he and Ashwin played together for Tamil Nadu in domestic cricket, and recollected some instances where Ashwin was key ODI bowler who could keep things tight in the middle overs.
“There is something about the man, isn’t it?I remember very vividly when I saw him in Bangalore in one of those U17 games, he was somebody who could keep bowling off-spin and keep things tight in an ODI,” said Dinesh Karthik.
Ravichandran Ashwin has rechristened himself as an allrounder in Tests, he stands second in ICC’s Test Match ranking for Allrounders only behind teammate Ravindra Jadeja. Since his debut Test match against the West Indies, Ashwin has amassed 3129 runs in 91 Tests at an average of 26.97, including five hundreds and 13 half-centuries.
“From thereon, he’s become arguably one of the greatest off-spinners, But the key point that I’m trying to make here is he was a batter before, and you could see it when he plays. He knows how to score runs. He has got his lazy elegance.” he added.
Dinesh Karthik was all praises for Ashwin’s partner in crime Ravindra Jadeja as well, who continued his handy contributions down the order by scoring another half-century against the West Indies.
We are all used to seeing him do it consistently these days, he makes those handy contributions – Dinesh Karthik
He has got three triple-hundreds in domestic cricket, not many people have done it. You can see why he is so good with the bat.” said Dinesh Karthik.
Ravindra Jadeja batted at Number 6 and stitched up a handy partnership of 159 runs with Virat Kohli for the fifth wicket, saving India when they were in a spot of bother.
“The confidence that he has got,” he added. “He got his fifty, batted really well, very useful innings. Tough pitch to bat on, and Kemar Roach, let’s not forget, is one of the better bowlers in world cricket against left-handers.” Karthik added.