India vs England 2021: Ravichandran Ashwin Is An Asset To The Indian Team, Says Kiran More

Former Indian wicketkeeper Kiran More has heaped praise on Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin’s all-around abilities and called him an ‘asset’ to the Indian team. Ashwin produced a magical performance in the second test at Chennai with a century and a five-wicket haul in the same match to help India level the series 1-1 against England in the four-match test series.

Ashwin had the home crowd support and used it to his advantage to bring up a brilliant century in the second innings in a rank turner where all the other batsmen failed to get going. This is the third instance of Ashwin bagging a century and a five-wicket haul in the same match with the first two coming against the West Indies in 2011 and 2016. Ashwin has been good with the bat in recent times against Australia and he showed his worth again as an all-rounder in the team.

” I Always Thought He Was A Better Batsman” – Kiran More

Kiran More told that he had always rated Ashwin as a better batsman and called him as ‘matured wine’. He added that Ashwin has played the right shots at the right times and praised his ability to cut and pull well. He told that Ashwin is among the best in the world when it comes to all-rounders and noted the innings in Syndey which would have given Ashwin a lot of confidence.

“He’s a matured wine. He has five hundred and when you have that you are an all-rounder. I always thought he was a better batsman (than what he is perceived). He plays very correctly and has some great shots.

He can cut well, pull well and he has always batted well. It’s not that he started batting well after Sydney. Maybe the knock gave him more confidence.

“He’s an asset for the Indian team. When you talk about all-rounders, Ashwin is amongst the best in world cricket,” said Kiran More.

Ashwin And Lyon Are The Best Spinners In The World: Kiran More

Kiran More backed Ashwin to take over 600 wickets and added that the nation should be proud to have Ashwin on the team. Kiran More also credited Ashwin as one of the best in the business alongside Nathan Lyon. He added that wrist spinners have been ineffective while off-spinners have dominated the proceedings in the world.

“Ashwin is definitely going to take over 600 wickets. India should feel proud that they have Ashwin. When we look at world cricket, there are hardly any quality off-spinners. Teams like England and Sri Lanka are trying to develop. In Nathan Lyon, Australia have one of the finest off-spinners.

“Off-spinners are taking more wickets than anyone else. We talk of wrist-spinners being among wickets, but this era might end up being for off-spinners. Nathan Lyon and Ashwin are the best spinners globally,” added Kiran More, the former chairman of selectors.”

India needs a win and a draw to qualify for the world test championship in the remaining two tests against England