Ravichandran Ashwin Still India's Best Spinner: Anil Kumble

Ravichandran Ashwin was nearly untouchable when Anil Kumble was the head coach of Team India. Even the mere thought of dropping the off-spinner from the playing eleven especially in Tests looked sounded absolutely absurd. Ashwin also made sure to repay the faith with some stunning performances.

But as soon as Anil Kumble departed, things changed drastically for the Tamil Nadu man. As things stand now, he is no more a part of the ODI and the T20I sides. What has made things worse for Ashwin is that he is not even a regular in Tests too. Things took a turn for the worse last year when he struggled with his fitness.

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Ashwin missed as many as five Tests in South Africa, England and Australia last year. He did not get a chance in the playing eleven for the Johannesburg Test before missing the last Test in England with a groin injury.

His injury woes then came back to haunt him in Australia too. After an impressive show in the first Test in Adelaide, the off-spinner could not play in the remainder of the series due to a left-sided abdominal strain. Thus, he is no more a guaranteed name for India in Tests. In the recently-concluded series against West Indies, Ashwin warmed the bench in both the games.

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But Anil Kumble believes the spinner is still India’s number one as he asked the team-management to find a way to include Ashwin in the playing eleven. Kumble, in fact, believes that both Ashwin as well as Ravindra Jadeja can play in the playing eleven together due to their batting abilities.

“He is still the best spinner that you have. Yes, there have been a few incidents where he has had injuries & not performed to his potential, but Ashwin is your number 1 spinner in the team. He should be a part of the squad, he should be in the playing XI, you have to make a way of getting him in,” Anil Kumble told Cricket Next.

I strongly believe that the team certainly can have two spinners in the squad, because both Ashwin & Jadeja are wonderful batsmen. Ashwin has had four Test hundreds, Jadeja has been really consistent with the bat. He did that again in the West Indies, he’s a wonderful bowler too & both of them in tandem can certainly be handful for the opposition.

“I strongly believe that Ashwin will certainly make it into the playing XI. So, the management needs to look at that and I am a bit surprised that someone with the ability and quality of Ashwin is sitting out in a Test match,” added Anil Kumble.

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Ashwin is likely to get a chance in the playing eleven when India host South Africa later this month. India are likely to play two spinners in home conditions and both Ashwin and Jadeja are expected to make the cut.