A very odd turn by cricket's reigning master of spin
Hindustan Times Uttarakhand|December 19, 2024
In the middle of the tributes and praise being showered upon Ravichandran Ashwin, it appears to be a bit churlish to ask, but why now? In the middle of a series?

Let's keep that for later. After paying due salutes to a cricketer whose India career began as a white-ball bowler with a bagful of tricks, but finished as a Test giant. You'd have heard it by now, but this is Ashwin as of today: India's second-highest Test wicket-taker after Anil Kumble, No 4 on the all-time spinners' list behind Muthiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne and Kumble; No 7 overall.

Behind those numbers is Ashwin, the competitor - leader of India's spin attack with success and ferocity, a major figure as India pushed towards becoming an all-format team capable of taking on anyone anywhere. His alliance with Ravindra Jadeja was to establish India's unbeatable domestic run in home Test series for over 12 years, before the crushing 3-0 defeat to New Zealand a few months ago.

Earlier in his career, Ashwin was part of India's two ICC title-winning teams, the 2011 World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy, in which he played in two matches each. It was in his 14 away Test victories where Ashwin's influence must also be recognised. He took 71 wickets in those vital Test wins at an average (22.53) and an economy (2.58) better than his overall record, and a strike rate of 52.3. He was central to India's 2015 Test series triumph in Sri Lanka after 22 years, player of the series with 21 wickets. When India beat West Indies 2-0 a year later, he was player of the series again, with 17 wickets and two centuries in the two wins.

At home, he loomed in 47 Test victories, 303 wickets @18.16, SR 39.9. Post 2011, India started preparing rank turners at home as a Test match policy following two 4-0, 4-0 drubbings in England and Australia. Ashwin often opened the bowling in Tests, leaving visiting batters hapless and clueless at his accuracy and relentlessness.

This story is from the December 19, 2024 edition of Hindustan Times Uttarakhand.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the December 19, 2024 edition of Hindustan Times Uttarakhand.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM HINDUSTAN TIMES UTTARAKHANDView All
Hindustan Times Uttarakhand

Not done yet, lot of cricket left in me, says Ashwin

The game gave me so much to a point where it allowed me to be creative and explore the best inside me R ASHWIN, ex-India spinner

time-read
2 mins  |
December 24, 2024
Hindustan Times Uttarakhand

Fit-again Renuka Thakur back to spearheading India's pace attack

Renuka Thakur knew that to achieve the breakthrough performance she was aiming for, a conversation with the legendary Jhulan Goswami was necessary.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 24, 2024
Hindustan Times Uttarakhand

Ex-India batter Kambli stable in hospital

ON SATURDAY, KAMBLI WAS ADMITTED IN AAKRUTI HOSPITAL IN THANE BY HIS WELL-WISHER SAILESH THAKUR, WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE HOSPITAL

time-read
2 mins  |
December 24, 2024
Hindustan Times Uttarakhand

Khel Ratna list not finalised, says ministry on Manu 'snub'

Ministry says shooter did not apply for the award, even as family asks why the process must be so stringent given her Paris feat

time-read
3 mins  |
December 24, 2024
Hindustan Times Uttarakhand

Record chase in women's 50-over game

The suspense over Mohammed Shami featuring in the ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy series is over with the Indian cricket board announcing that the pacer has been ruled out of any participation in the last two Tests because of a knee condition.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 24, 2024
Hindustan Times Uttarakhand

GMR SPORTS TO LAUNCH RUGBY 7S FRANCHISE-BASED LEAGUE NEXT YEAR

GMR Sport announced the launch of a franchise-based Rugby 7s league in a 10-year strategic partnership with Rugby India, the national governing body for the game.

time-read
1 min  |
December 24, 2024
Hindustan Times Uttarakhand

India wait for Shubman to sort out scoring issues in away Tests

The No.3 batter has a range of shots, but hasn't shown patience early on and has struggled on this tour of Australia

time-read
3 mins  |
December 24, 2024
Hindustan Times Uttarakhand

Good bowlers are excited to come to MCG, says curator

The weather in Melbourne has already dropped from a high of 37°C a day after the team landed here to a max of 18°C on Monday.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 24, 2024
Hindustan Times Uttarakhand

Sales ratio shows growing e-mobility ecosystem in 2024

The number of fossil fuel-based vehicles sold for every electric vehicle (EV) in the two-wheeler and light motor vehicle categories has fallen in 2024, compared with last year, a positive indicator for the EV ecosystem in the country.

time-read
1 min  |
December 24, 2024
Hindustan Times Uttarakhand

Honda, Nissan to fuse into automobile giant

Honda and Nissan are in talks to merge by 2026, they said on Monday, a historic pivot for Japan's auto industry that underlines the threat Chinese EV makers now pose to the world's long-dominant legacy car makers.

time-read
1 min  |
December 24, 2024