3. Ravichandran Ashwin (7/59 vs New Zealand, Indore)
India’s ace-spinner and by distance the best bowler of 2016 with a total of 71 wickets, Ravichandran Ashwin has all reasons in the world to feel proud of. The off-spinner in the past twelve months has produced some breath-taking performances. Out of the two seven-wicket hauls he took in an innings this year, one against New Zealand at Indore makes the list.
Having won the three-match series 2-0, India were aiming for a whitewash against New Zealand in the third Test at Indore, and who apart from Ravichandran Ashwin could take up the challenge. The 30-year-old, in the second innings, wreaked havoc as he ran through the batting line-up with his magic. From finding the gap between bat-pad to trapping the batsman in-front of stumps, Ashwin banished any hopes of visitors saving the Test.
His magnificent match figures of 13/140 helped India whitewash Kane Williamson’s men 3-0.