From magical spells to plundering centuries: Revisiting the brilliance of Ravichandran Ashwin
With 765 international wickets to his name, the Indian all-rounder leaves behind a legacy that is going to be etched in history books for a very long time.
By Anuraag Prashanth
A spin icon, a master of his craft, and a wizard who weaved his magic and turned the momentum in his side’s favour almost at will - Ravichandran Ashwin has called time on his illustrious career.
106 Tests, 537 wickets, 37 five-wicket hauls, eight 10-wicket hauls, six hundreds with the willow are some of his standout numbers in the red-ball format.
From his spellbinding wickets in the subcontinent to match-winning performances overseas, Ashwin has etched his name in the history books with his all-round brilliance.
Here’s a look at some of his career-best performances:
6/81 & 7/59 vs New Zealand (Indore, 2016)
One of Ashwin’s most iconic performances came in the 2016 Test series against New Zealand. In the third Test in Indore, the off-spinner first showcased his expertise in the first innings, claiming 6/81 that gave the home side an enormous lead.
Following it up, the spinner was pivotal in the second innings as well, claiming his career-best figures of 7/59, that gave India a mammoth 321-run win.
On a turning pitch, Ashwin bamboozled the New Zealand batters, including the likes of Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor, with his variations.
India offspinner receives Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy as well as the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year 2016
1 n.o vs Pakistan (T20 World Cup, 2022)
Ashwin - a master tactician, known for his sense of game-awareness - pulled off possibly one of the most riskiest, yet smartest moves that paid off big time for India.
India needed 16 off their final over in the tournamnet opener against Pakistan. Ashwin walked in for the final ball of the game, with India still needing two to cross the line, thanks to Kohli's display of clutch once again.
Ashwin's awareness of the game and his composure allowed him to just look on as the ball passed his leg stump for a wide off Mohammad Nawaz.
With the scores now level, Ashwin timed a perfectly lofted shot over mid-off to hit the winning runs in front of a packed crowd at the MCG.
5/43, 106 & 3/53 vs England (Chennai, 2021)
The hometown hero proved to be too much for the English side as he put up an all-round show with the bat and ball and guided India to a series-levelling win in the second Test.
Defending their first innings total of 329, Ashwin rammed through England’s batting lineup, helping himself to 5/43 to set the tone of the game.
In India's second innings, Ashwin smashed his fifth Test century in front of a roaring Chepauk crowd to set a mammoth 482-run target in the fourth innings.
The crowd favorite didn’t stop there as he went on to clinch three more wickets, guiding India to a massive 317-run win.
113 & 7/83 vs West Indies (North Sound, 2016)
This was a Test where Ashwin showed his craftsmanship with the ball as well as the bat once again.
The right-hand batter first sizzled with the willow, plundering his third Test hundred, that complemented a sizzling 200 from Virat Kohli as India declared their first innings at 566/8.
Despite not picking up a wicket as the home side were bundled out for 243, India enforced the follow-on and Ashwin subsequently turned up his game, grabbing a match-winning 7/83 that inflicted an innings and 92-run defeat on the home side.
5/32 & 7/66 vs South Africa (Nagpur, 2015)
Another classic where Ashwin was head and shoulders above the opposing batting order.
After India got bowled out for only 215 runs in the first innings, the duo of Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja went on to shatter the visitors’ batting order, picking up nine wickets between them with the former taking a wizardly 5/32, bowling out the Proteas for just 79.
The fourth innings target of 310 would prove to be too much for the visitors as Ashwin laid the spin trap with a magnificent seven-wicket haul that returned a 124-run win, with India going 2-0 up in the series.
7/103 & 5/95 vs Australia (Chennai, 2013)
In the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Ashwin’s wizardry proved to be crucial for India in the first innings as he ran through the Australian top-order.
The first six wickets of the match were taken by the spinner as the Aussies had no answer to his magic with the ball. Ashwin went on to grab his maiden seven-wicket haul and his then best Test figures of 7/103.
With India posting a humongous total of 572 in return, Ashwin went on to add five more wicketts to his tally in the second innings which helped the hosts in bundling out the visitors for 241. India eventually chased down the 50-run target with ease and took the lead in the series.
2/15 vs England (Champions Trophy Final, 2013)
In a rain-hit final, Ashwin put up a stellar show in defence of India's 129.
By the end of his first two overs, Ashwin’s spell read 2-0-6-2, as he snapped crucial wickets of Jonathan Trott and Joe Root in back-to-back overs.
His third over was a maiden that slotted India right back into the game.
With Dhoni placing his trust on the spinner to defend 14 off the final over, Ashwin didn’t let his side down, taking them to a thrilling five-run victory and clinching the title.
4/11 vs Australia (T20 World Cup, 2014)
The spinner's heroics with the ball in this tight fixture against the Aussies cemented India's status at the top of Group 2 as they headed into the semifinals unbeaten.
Defending 159, the right-arm spinner dented Australia's hopes, picking up three crucial wickets of Aaron Finch, David Warner and the dangerous Glenn Maxwell that took them out of the game.
Ashwin then provided the finishing touch with the wicket of James Muirhead, ending with figures of 3.2-0-11-4.
4/8 vs Sri Lanka, 3rd T20I (Visakhapatnam, 2016)
Ashwin was at his brutal best with the new ball, leaving the Sri Lankan top-order clueless.
Ashwin opened the innings with the ball in stunning fashion, sending both openers - Niroshan Dickwella and Tillakaratne Dilshan - packing in the very first over.
This dazzling start gave him two more overs at the top, where he claimed as many wickets that helped India bowl out Sri Lanka for just 82 runs. The spinner ended with figures of 4-1-8-4 - his best in the format.