After successfully conquering the T20Is and ODIs challenges, the Indian team will now face the toughest challenge of the tour – IND vs SA Test series.
With a new skipper, a new team and rich form, the Indian team will begin their ‘Rainbow Nation Test winning adventure’ from Centurion.
While the team will be aiming to create history with their first Test series win in South Africa, few players will be also eyeing to reach individual milestones.
India’s veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is on the verge of completing 500 Test wickets. The 37-year-old needs just 11 wickets to join the elite list. However. the question that looms is whether Ashwin will even get an opportunity to reach the milestone.
Another ‘Bench’ mark series loading?
Despite his stature, skills and records, Ashwin has always been seen as a ‘second option’ when it comes to overseas Test matches.
Interestingly, the veteran spinner’s record lends support to Team India’s strategic choices.
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Except for England, where Ashwin has claimed 18 wickets in seven Test matches at an average of 28, his performances in Australia and South Africa have been unlike the usual ‘Ashwin’ standards.
In South Africa, Ashwin has claimed 10 wickets in 6 matches at a disastrous average of 50. Despite a good record in England, the off-spinner was not trusted for the World Test Championship final and it is likely to happen against Proteas as well.
Ashwin’s Test Performances in Country
| Australia | 10 | 560.4 | 88 | 1644 | 39 | 0 | 0 | 4/55 | 42.15 | 86.26 | 2.93 |
| Bangladesh | 3 | 111.5 | 17 | 341 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 5/87 | 28.42 | 55.92 | 3.05 |
| England and Wales | 7 | 200.1 | 43 | 506 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 4/62 | 28.11 | 66.72 | 2.53 |
| India | 55 | 2619.3 | 587 | 7035 | 337 | 26 | 6 | 7/59 | 20.88 | 46.64 | 2.69 |
| New Zealand | 1 | 29.0 | 1 | 99 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3/99 | 33.00 | 58.00 | 3.41 |
| South Africa | 6 | 182.4 | 33 | 505 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 4/113 | 50.50 | 109.60 | 2.76 |
| Sri Lanka | 6 | 260.4 | 47 | 820 | 38 | 3 | 1 | 6/46 | 21.58 | 41.16 | 3.15 |
| West Indies | 6 | 221.0 | 54 | 619 | 32 | 4 | 1 | 7/71 | 19.34 | 41.44 | 2.80 |
With pitch most likely to assist the pace bowlers, India will be tempted to go with 4 pacers and Ravindra Jadeja as lone spinner.
While Ashwin would be eager to return to the field after the ‘World Cup vacation,’ the wait for his 500th wicket may extend a bit longer.
India Test squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohd. Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Prasidh Krishna, KS Bharat (wk)
