India vs England 2021: Saba Karim Delighted To See Ravichandran Ashwin Getting The Accolades

Former Indian wicketkeeper Saba Karim expressed his happiness over off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin getting his well-deserved recognition for a long time. Ashwin registered his third instance of a century and a fifer in the second Test and was awarded the man of the match for his all-around performance. In the third Test, he became the second-fastest bowler in the world to pick up 400 wickets in tests after Muttiah Muralidharan.

Seen as the ‘biggest match-winner” for India in-home Tests, Kohli is absolutely right in calling the wily off-spinner Ashwin a ‘legend’ during the post-match presentation. Ashwin has had a phenomenal impact on India’s Test wins in the last decade and has always been a clever bowler. His speed variations and his ability to beat a right-hander through his outside edge by coming around the wicket is not an easy thing by any means.

Saba Karim Feels Ashwin Has Not Been Treated Properly In Overseas Tours

Saba Karim revealed his happiness to see Ashwin reaping the recognition he deserved for many years and felt that Ashwin has not backed up well in a way tours after one bad spell. He added that Ashwin has proved well to the fans that he is a fine all-rounder and it was evident with his century in the second Test. He credited Ashwin for his success by terming him as a ‘match winner’.

“I am happy R Ashwin is getting the recognition he should have got many years ago. I have always been troubled that whenever the Indian team has gone to play outside the Asian sub-continent, he has faced harsh decisions quite a few times. If he has bowled one bad spell or not bowled well in a Test match, he has been dropped quite a few times. I have always felt that he has not been treated properly,” Saba Karim said.

“I am happy that he is coming forward now as a true match-winner and he is not only getting respect in his team, but a lot of cricket fans and former cricketers have got the belief that he is definitely a match-winner and a complete all-rounder. He has come and scored runs in difficult situations quite often,” added Karim.

Saba Karim To Remember Ashwin’s Two Brillant Deliveries Forever

Saba Karim was particularly impressed with the way Ashwin dismissed Ollie Pope from over the wicket as well as around the wicket in both the innings of the third Test. Ollie Pope looked to use his feet against the spinners and Ashwin mastered a brilliant delivery to disturb the stumps with a carrom ball.

“I will always remember two deliveries from the last Test match, the way he dismissed Ollie Pope in both innings by bowling a carrom ball, one from over the stumps and the other from round the stumps. He showed the intelligence and dismissed Ollie Pope in a brilliant fashion, who was the only player looking to play the spinners after stepping out,” Saba Karim added.

Ashwin raised to number three in the ICC test bowler rankings and could move to the second spot after the fourth Test with just two points away from Neil Wagner.