The scientist of cricket—this is what one of the greatest Indian cricketers, Virender Sehwag, described Ravichandran Ashwin as. The fascinating thing about it is that Sehwag labeled him a ‘scientist’ after he helped India chase down 145 in a low-scoring encounter in Mirpur. This is the perfect embodiment of who Ashwin is as a cricketer. A legendary off-spinner who’s the smartest man on the field even with a bat in his hand. Ashwin is all set to play his 100th Test in the IND vs ENG series-ender in Dharamsala. WV Raman hailed his “phenomenal commitment.”
“He would obviously go as one of the major contributors to Indian cricket, and he’s also got the chance to go on to become a legend,” former India spinner WV Raman told InsideSport.
What sets Ashwin apart?
The man who is a chess player on the cricket field is often overlooked for the insane physicality he brings. Sure, he might not be the best fielder in the world like Ravindra Jadeja or a supreme athlete like Virat Kohli, but what he does on the field is no less than either.
But what sets him apart? WV Raman says it’s his phenomenal commitment. Whether to bat through severe back pain or return to a Test match after rushing to the hospital for his ailing mother, Ashwin has always put country first.
“I think I would put it down to his phenomenal commitment to overcome whatever challenges he encountered, not just on the field as a spinner but also the kind of challenges in terms of fitness. He has always worked on his speed and agility. I think that’s where he’s really stood out for me because it’s not easy for him and he has to overcome challenges constantly,” WV Raman told InsideSport.
Ashwin stats
Over the last thirteen years, Ashwin has bowled 33767 balls (5627 overs). From flat pitches to raggers, the off-spinner has proved his worth on all. From changing his action miseries to deciding to bowl leg spinners, there is nothing the wizard can’t do. Mankads, leaving that ball by Nawaz or being the lone member of the 500 wickets club to score five centuries, the cricketers stand apart from everyone who came and everyone who will.
India’s greatest spinner?
Bishen Singh Bedi, Anil Kumble, BS Chandrasekhar Harbhajan Singh, and Ravindra Jadeja are arguably the greatest spinners India has ever produced. But is Ravichandran Ashwin better than all of them? On a simple wicket count, he’s only behind Kumble, but is he?
“Yes, you can say that without comparing them. Why should we compare them?” This is what Raman, one of his first-ever coaches, said when asked if both of them were on par as India’s biggest match-winners in Test cricket.
This, while it may seem diplomatic, is 100% correct. Although Ashwin has better numbers than the legendary leggie, one has to take into account what pitches, opposition, and teammates they played with.
Unlike today, India produced some of the flattest pitches in the 1990s, and Kumble had just one or two great bowlers backing him. It wasn’t until the 2000s that pitches offered him a little more, and he had a spin twin in Harbhajan. Meanwhile, Ashwin has had better pitches in the last five years, as have Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, and Ishant Sharma for most of his career.
So, who is India’s greatest ever spinner? The answer is that it doesn’t matter. Despite what Ravichandran Ashwin does in the future and what Anil Kumble has done in the past, either of their greatness can’t ever be questioned as two of India’s greatest ever bowlers.
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