There’s a brilliance that often goes unnoticed, quietly weaving its way through the heart of Indian cricket. A master of his craft, a player whose elegance and skill shine in every match, yet somehow, we’ve let his greatness slip by without the recognition it truly deserves.
This cricketer has redefined the art of spin bowling for India, bringing a unique blend of intelligence and variety that no other spinner has before. His ability to outfox the best batsmen, coupled with his often-under-appreciated batting contributions, sets him apart. Even at 38, his hunger for the game remains undiminished, far from the twilight of his career, proving that his journey is far from over.
Most of you have guessed it right – we’re talking about Ravichandran Ashwin, the newly crowned #1 ranked Test bowler in the world.
Yes, Ashwin, who has taken an astounding 522 wickets in just 101 Test matches for India. But that’s not all – with the bat, he has amassed 3,422 runs at an impressive average of 26.94, including 6 Test hundreds and 14 half-centuries.
These are feats few can boast. We’re talking about the #1 Test bowler and the #2 ranked Test all-rounder – Ravichandran Ashwin.
Ashwin emerged at a time when the Indian team was undergoing a transition in the spin department, following the retirement of Anil Kumble and with Harbhajan Singh nearing the end of his career. He had enormous shoes to fill, and 13-14 years later, he has ensured that no Indian fan ever felt the absence of those two spin legends.
In fact, he has taken his game to even greater heights. Fittingly, Ashwin made his Test debut at the same ground where Kumble played his final match three years earlier – the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi.
Ashwin’s greatest strength over the years has been his sharp intelligence in reading conditions and mapping out batters accordingly. A recent match at Chepauk serves as a perfect example. He went wicketless in the first innings, but in the second innings, he knew exactly what adjustments to make.
The Chepauk pitch wasn’t turning from ball one, so Ashwin adapted.
He reduced his pace, mostly bowling around 80kph, using this as a key weapon. He mixed it up with undercutters, keeping batters rooted to the crease, before unleashing his loopy off break that spun and bounced off the surface. This ability to assess and adjust has given Ashwin a constant edge throughout his career, both in bowling and batting. He’s always known which gears to shift, and it’s paid off brilliantly.
Ashwin’s spin bowling has been unleashed against every major cricketing nation, but none have faced his wrath quite like England and Australia. He has taken 114 Test wickets each against these teams, in just 24 matches against England and 22 against Australia. However, his most dominant performance has come against New Zealand, where he has claimed 66 wickets in just 9 Test matches, at a remarkable average of 15.43.
These figures highlight Ashwin’s ability to consistently dismantle some of the strongest batting line-ups in the world.
When we talk about Ashwin, off-spin bowling is the first thing that comes to mind. However, it’s his relentless hard work and dedication that have earned him the stature any all-rounder would be proud of in Test cricket.
One often overlooked aspect is his batting. He showed glimpses of his potential as early as 2012 on Australian soil, taking on their quicks with ease, playing those elegant square cuts from the backfoot.
Over the years, he has continued to refine his batting, and with 6 Test centuries to his name, he now stands level with MS Dhoni in Test hundreds—a true testament to his all-round abilities.
Ashwin’s craft has only become more refined over the years, and the stats back it up. He made his debut under MS Dhoni, playing 22 Tests and claiming 109 wickets at an average of 28.77, with a strike rate of 59.8. Many cricket pundits believe his true peak came during the Virat Kohli era, where he played 55 Tests and took an astonishing 293 wickets at an average of 22.13 and a strike rate of 48.2.
Currently, Ashwin is excelling under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy, with even more remarkable numbers. In just 15 Tests, he has taken 85 wickets at an average of 19.30 and a strike rate of 37.7. As he continues to get better with age, the phrase “AGES LIKE FINE WINE” couldn’t be more fitting for Ashwin’s illustrious career.
Some Fascinating Heights That Only Help Make Ravichandran Ashwin’s Test Career Like A Skyscraper:
MOST 5-WICKET HAULS FOR INDIA(37)
JOINT MOST 10-WICKET HAULS FOR INDIA(8 alongside ANIL KUMBLE)
FASTEST TO 250, 300 and 350 TEST WICKETS IN THE WORLD.
ONLY CRICKETER TO HAVE TAKEN 30 FIVE-WICKET HAULS AND SCORED 20 FIFTY-
PLUS SCORES
A Once In A Generation Player
Players like Ravichandran Ashwin are born once in a generation, and as fans and lovers of cricket, we are truly blessed to witness his brilliance unfold on the field during our time.
His unmatched skills, relentless dedication, and ever-evolving game have made him a cornerstone of Indian cricket. Ashwin is not just a remarkable cricketer; he’s a true Indian gem, a player we should treasure with pride. Watching him take the field is a privilege, and that’s not even overstating it.
Always an amazing experience reading your blogs. Great insights!