Former Indian spinner Venkatapathy Raju praised Ashwin for becoming the number 1 test bowler in the world. His wicket taking abilities are amazing and have to do nothing different to become a go-to bowler for the Indian team in all formats.
“He (Ashwin) has got fantastic variations and he adopts himself in three formats of the game which is difficult. I think, in between he tried something which did not click and he came back to his own bowling. We had Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh and lot of spinners who were strike bowlers and now I think he is our main strike bowler. Any captain will be more than happy to have him (in the side),” Raju said.
“Bhajji (Harbhajan) did this for a long time and Kumble did it for a longer time and they all had good support bowlers. So, we have other good support bowlers to support him (Ashwin) very well. He’s number one bowler now. His wicket taking ability is amazing and he’s got very good variations and we should appreciate somebody who is a match winner,” he told PTI in an interview.
Raju added, “I think he doesn’t have to try much and just bowl the way he knows. People now realise all over the world that he can be a match-winner and he’s has been doing that now again and again. As a spinner (myself) I am happy that spinners are winning more man-of-the-series nowadays which is good for us.”
Ashwin took 62 wickets in 9 test matches in the year 2015 and became the first Indian bowler after Bishan Singh Bedi in 1973 to reach the milestone. Ashwin has become a more reliable bowler for the Indian team and it is now time to perform outside the subcontinent.