With 507 wickets in 99 Tests at an average of 23.91, Ashwin has established himself as one of the most successful all-rounders of the modern era.
Ashwin’s best Test spells
Despite his joint-most five-wicket hauls for India, Ashwin considers three specific spells as his best. These include a 3/59 performance against England at Edgbaston in 2018, a 4/113 spell against South Africa at Centurion in the same year, and a marathon 2/84 in 49 overs against Australia in Bengaluru in 2017.
Ashwin values these spells not just for the number of wickets taken, but for the impact they had on the game.
‘It is Test wins that stand really tall’
In an interview with ESPNCricinfo, Ashwin stated, “When you finish, it is Test wins that stand really tall. But having given it a lot of thought, one of the finest spells I have bowled has to be the one in Birmingham in 2018. I got three wickets on the morning of day three. I got Cook, Root, and Jennings. I got seven wickets in the game. I felt like I had almost bowled India to victory in the game, but it did not happen. That has to be one of the finest spells I have bowled.”
Ashwin also highlighted his performances in Bangalore and Centurion as standout spells. Reflecting on his Test career, he acknowledged the impact of the England series in 2012-13, where he struggled and faced criticism. This setback motivated him to work on his weaknesses and become a key figure in India’s dominance at home.
Ashwin shared, “At that time, it was a bit nervy because I did not know where it came from. I had played three series. I had bowled really well in Melbourne and had a decent Test in Adelaide. I had been a player of the series twice before that and was on the verge of being left out. But when I went back and reflected upon it, there was one thing that dawned on me about what was wrong with me. And that is a wonderful lesson I have still kept with me all these years down the line.”
Importance of self-improvement
Ashwin emphasized the importance of self-improvement and learning from mistakes.
He stated, “Whatever happens, we can hold a lot of complaints against somebody external or blame it on another individual. But for me, if you look internally, you can improve at least by another 5 per cent. Until and unless there is something wrong with you, people are not going to throw punches at you or point fingers at you. When I looked back at it, I knew what I had to correct.”
‘It is a team game…’
Addressing the criticism of his overseas record, Ashwin acknowledged that he has been left out of certain matches for the country but understands the team’s decisions were made in the best interest of the team. He praised Ravindra Jadeja, who often outperformed him with the bat, leading to his selection in overseas games.
Ashwin admitted, “The only way you can find an answer for that is if you had a time machine, me playing, and then whether the result would have been different. It has always been disappointing not to play a particular game for your country. From their perspective, they would have thought they made the best decision at that point in time. Even though you are disappointed, you will have to come around the fact that it is a team game and sometimes maybe someone else will play that game.”
Ashwin’s Test stats:
- Ashwin’s records at home speak for themselves, with 354 wickets in 59 Tests at an average of 21.33.
- He has also contributed with the bat, scoring 1,824 runs at an average of 27.22 at home.
- Away from home, Ashwin has taken 153 wickets in 40 Tests and has scored 1,456 runs at an average of 26.00.
India currently lead the series against England 3-1. While the series result is already decided, both teams have the opportunity to gain World Test Championship points in the final Test in Dharamshala. India sit atop the World Test Championship standings, while England are currently in eighth place.
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(With inputs from ANI)