Ravichandran Ashwin, as any cricket lover would agree, is all about the three ‘E’s – efficiency, expertise and exceptionalism. Gradually, Ashwin has proved himself as one of the best and professional bowler in the tread mark of Indian cricket team. He has been able to change the areas, and vary his deliveries and has been able to come through with the best bowline contributions each time he takes the field for India.
Contents
A Master of Spin Bowling
It is for this reason that Ashwin serves as the bowler of strength in the Indian bowling line-up due to his class spin bowling. Unlike many other spinners, who rely heavily on turn, Ashwin offers a whole lot more to the side. Not only does he spin the ball both ways with the older ball nice and juicy but also varies his options from the perfect batting overnight carrom balls to the inconspicuous seam movement.
Ashwin is excellent with respect to line and length. He understood when to flight the ball, when to bowl with faster thru the air, and when to put just enough spin to create mistakes from the batsman. This much accuracy makes him a weapon, especially in subcontinental conditions where spin holds sway.
Record-Breaking Performances
In the team, Ashwin is a forced that cannot be overlooked owing to the records some of which are highlighted below. The latter in particular may explain why he is among bowlers who took the least amount of time to get to 400 Test wickets as of today. His mastery of conditions at home and abroad distinguish him from many spinners, most of whom fail outside their comfort zone.
Few of the best performances by Ashwin include matches ones against many stern sides including that against Australian, English and the South Africans. Whether it was chalking up a five-wicket haul on a spinning track in Chennai or bamboozling the batsmen with the Worcester seaming track in England, Ashwin has been always at his best.
A Thinker on the Field
What sets Ashwin apart I believe is his cricketing brain. He is not just a bowler but a nice strategist who actually breaks down every bit of motion in cricket. Ashwin’s capacity to analyse the batsmen and when to put pressure on them is second to none. He get the better of the best of batsmen with his guile as well as his planning of strategies.
To wit, in the Test series in England in 2021, many applauded Ashwin for a perfectly choreographed dismissal of Ben Stokes. He saw that Stokes was vulnerable, ensured the field was correctly positioned and bowled exactly the right balls to get him out. All such manoeuvres put Ashwin into a different pedestal of a standout performer.
Adaptability Across Formats
Another reason why Ashwin is valued as the pillar of the Indian bowling is because he is versatile in as far as the type of cricket is concerned. However, the role he has played in the one-day cricket is barely less pronounced as the genius he displays during the test games. Hence, bowls effectively in the powerplay and explosive overs same way he is able to restrict the flow on runs in the middle overs and take helpful wickets both in ODIs and T20s making him a prime all rounder.
A look at Ashwin’s performance in IPL, will show you that Ashwin is one of the most economical bowler. Representing various franchises, including the Chennai Super Kings, Kings XI Punjab, and Delhi Capitals, he has never disappointed and often sealed victories of the game for his side. That exposure has been sharpened in IPL and thus, he is a worthy customer in T20 internationals as well.
A Leader in the Dressing Room
Ashwin, however, is more than an asset or weapon for the Indian cricket team off the field. He is a captains material and has the ability to educate his teammates of how he approaches his daily and work schedule, as well as love for the game. Young spinners tend to learn from him, and Ashwin is never shy to pass on his lessons.
This was evident during his time as the captain of Kings Eleven Punjab Indian Premier League IPL. Even where there were stumbling blocks, Ashwin proved himself capable of planning and guiding the team from the front which endeared him to players and spectators. Since Ashwin is not necessarily a leader, his presence in a dressing room with the team is always a morale-booster to players.
Ashwin’s Impact on Indian Cricket
For many years Ashwin has been an instrumental figure in many fabulous victories for the Indian cricket team. His achievements were seen during the historic series win in australia in 2020-21 season. Despite injuries and unfavorable weather that hampered play, Ashwin remained as determined and steadfast for India in this series as the team was in winning the trophy back.
Other than being a bowler, Ashwin is also a useful lower order batsman whose presence has stood out for the team time and again. His competency and fitness to come and get those odd runs lower down the order makes him more valuable to Indian team. His ability to slog it out for a valuable fifty or two in a Test match or to accelerate when needed in a T20 or ODI, makes him a handy package.
Challenges and Comebacks
Like other cricketer in the team, Ashwin has also felt the heat at some times. In the past he used to be in a situation where he had to sit out from the limited overs’ teams owing to either combinations or a bad patch of form. But, what can be said is that Ashwin has always shown character and resilience, to comeback even stronger and that is the real attribute one looks in a cricketer.
He has returned back to white-ball cricket in style and numbers will support this statement. And there you have it, they say, a bowler that has changed his style and came back to the shorter version of the game as a different player. His willingness to work beyond incidents of overturned turnovers, and to continuously transform into a better player marks him out.
The Legacy of Ravichandran Ashwin
While Ashwin continues to accumulate more and more successes, he has already left a stain of one of the greatest Indian bowlers. He has revolutionized spin bowling and is already benchmark for the new generations. There are number of things that can be learnt from the journey of Ashwin, which can be role model for aspiring cricketers with equal amount of talent, hard work and intellect.
To have a deeper understanding regarding Ashwin’s value in Indian cricket team it is paramount to look beyond the statistics. He represents hard work, determination to change and achieve more and being the best that is in every athlete. The Australians will remember him for years to come as he paved the way for many young spin bowlers across the globe.
Conclusion
They all call Ravichandran Ashwin’s cricket career a story of sheer success, determination and desire. Being the key bowler in the Indian line-up, he has contributed immensely to the Indian bowling contributors in all forms and types of wickets. There is no one better than Ashwin to take on spin friendly pitches, excellent decision making skills, and to lead the spin department of Indian cricket team.
In our capacities as fans and lovers of cricket, one can only applaud Ravichandran Ashwin and eagerly expect to see more of him on the cricket pitch. There is no doubt that his claim to have been one of the best spinners in the history of this sport is real.
Source : Buzz Artical & HSUX Solutions
Recent Post
Gallery
