Daniel Vettori, New Zealand legendary spinner and ex-captain, weighed in on Ravichandran Ashwin’s performance, lauding the India off-spinner for having a terrific career after a draw between New Zealand and India in Kanpur.
The legend of Ravichandran Ashwin continues to grow as India’s premier off-spinner became the country’s third-highest wicket-taker in Tests surpassing the 40-year veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh when he dismissed New Zealand batter Tom Latham to grab his 418th Test scalp on Day 5 of the Kanpur Test.
Daniel Vettori: Ravichandran Ashwin Is Reliable At Home Conditions And Is Always Trying To Get Better
Ravichandran Ashwin is now next only to the legendary Anil Kumble and Kapil Dev and looks set to go second, needing another 16 wickets. Former New Zealand spinner and legend Daniel Vettori weighed in on Ravichandran Ashwin’s performance, lauding the India off-spinner for having a terrific career.
Daniel Vettori found Ravichandran Ashwin’s trait to evolve over the years impressive, saying the way he has dominated, especially in home conditions, is probably next to none.
“I think for someone who has been so dominant in so many different scenarios for India. He is so reliable, particularly in home conditions. The pace at which he takes wickets is phenomenal.
“The way he has evolved… his variations… the bowler that he was to the bowler that he has become. He is always learning, always trying to get better,” Vettori said on ESPNCricinfo.
The 35-year-old Ravichandran Ashwin took his 419th wicket in his 80th Test to surpass Harbhajan Singh (417 in 103 Tests) at an excellent average of 24.49. Ravichandran Ashwin claimed three wickets in both innings of the Kanpur Test and also made useful contributions of 38 and 32 with the bat.
Daniel Vettori Is Surprised How Ravindra Jadeja Is Preferred Over Constant Match Winner Ravichandran Ashwin
Having said that, Daniel Vettori expressed surprise over India’s tendency to drop Ravichandran Ashwin frequently from Test matches. Referring to Ravichandran Ashwin’s repeated snub from the four-Test matches in England, the former New Zealand captain found it tough to believe how the Indian team management preferred Ravindra Jadeja over him in Ravichandran Ashwin, given how the 35-year-old is possibly the best spinner in the world.
“All this while he is one of the best spinners for India and in world cricket, he regularly gets dropped. It is fascinating to sit back and see a guy who averages over five wickets in a Test and is a consistent match-winner gets left out of the team, and how Jadeja gets preferred over him. But he keeps coming back. He is far from done,” added Vettori.
Ravindra Jadeja has amassed 2195 runs besides picking up 232 scalps in 57 Tests since debuting in 2012. He averages 33.77 with the bat in Tests and 24.85 with the ball in the longest format.
The Indian think tank believed that Ravichandran Ashwin was not a potent threat on the seamer-friendly tracks in England. Ravichandran Ashwin has 18 wickets from seven Tests in England, while Ravindra Jadeja has 23 wickets from 10 Tests.
The two had played together in the World Test Championship final at Southampton against New Zealand in June without much success. Ravichandran Aswin is yet to score a Test fifty in England, while Ravindra Jadeja has three half-centuries to his credit.