Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri showered praise on Ravichandran Ashwin for always trying to evolve in his career. Ashwin decided to call time on his glorious career on Wednesday in a post-match press conference after India managed a draw against Australia in the third Test at the Gabba, Brisbane.
It was always observed that Ashwin never shied away from trying new actions and deliveries to keep going strongly at the top level. Ashwin had a lot of arrows in his quiver and more importantly, he knew which one he had to use at what time against a particular batter.
Ashwin finished his Test career with 537 scalps, second-highest for India after Anil Kumble (619) and seventh-highest overall, in 106 Test matches.
The all-rounder also amassed 3503 runs in the red-ball version, including six Test centuries. Ashwin bagged 156 ODI wickets in 116 matches whereas he snared 72 wickets in 65 T20I matches.
Ravi Shastri said on ICC Review, “I think what stands out for me was his wanting to evolve all the time. He wasn’t the kind of guy satisfied as to where he started. He wanted new tricks to be learned. He pursued it, practiced hard at it and continued to look for new things as his career progressed, to keep up with the times.”
“His legacy will be of being a terrific match-winner, a fabulous record, 537 sticks. I mean anyone over 500 (in Test cricket) is special.”
Shastri said Ashwin made a potent partnership with his spin partner Ravindra Jadeja while playing in the Indian conditions.
“And for him to do it in his span and the way he has done it, especially when it came to bowling in the last four or five years, I think in India, along with (Ravindra) Jadeja, I think they were a terrific pair, the real spin twins.”
Shastri highlighted that the two spinners played an instrumental role in each other’s success as they hunted in tandem.
“They complemented each other well and they spurred each other on you know so I would say a lot of Jadeja’s wickets in the last you know five-six years have come because of Ashwin and vice-versa,” the former all-rounder opined.
“It didn’t matter to him who he was bowling against. You know, he was up for it.”
Ashwin will be seen in action playing in the Indian Premier League for Chennai Super Kings.
