Ravichandran Ashwin is proving to be a better Test all-rounder than Ravindra Jadeja
With his second Test century at the Eden Gardens on Friday, Ravichandran Ashwin has proved that he can compare with the best all-rounders in the modern game. The 27-year-old had scored 616 runs in 22 innings at an average of 36.23. By comparison, Ravindra Jadeja has scored just 97 runs in six Test innings.
Ravichandran Ashwin is one of the many players to come into public limelight via the Indian Premier League. While his bowling -- with its tweaks and turns -- may be more suited to the limited-overs format, his batting is perfect for the five-day game. Although selected as a bowler, Ashwin's classic 124 proved that he was more than a capable all-rounder and commanded skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's faith in him. There is endorsement from former batting great Rahul Dravid who says: "Ashwin's batting ability gives India the option of playing with five bowlers, at home and abroad."
Ashwin showcased his batting ability in all its glory on the second day of the first India versus West Indies Test on Thursday. He came into bat with India in a spot of bother at 156 for 6, needing another 78 runs to level West Indies' first-innings total of 234. While the top-order batsmen were clearly bamboozled by Shane Shillingford's 'doosra' on a two-paced wicket at Eden Gardens, Ashwin strode in with a purpose and applied himself well.
With an array of sublime drives, artful flicks and well-worked sweeps, Ashwin partnered debutant centurion Rohit Sharma as the duo put on a record seventh-wicket stand of 280 that helped India grab a first innings lead of 219 by lunch on Day 3 on Friday. At close on day 2, Ashwin was eight short of his second Test century, the first one also coming against West Indies in Mumbai in November, 2011.
Indian skipper Dhoni is normally not a whiner. But ahead of the Eden Test, Dhoni said India missed all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja currently recovering from a shoulder strain. After Ashwin's batting contribution, Dhoni should not complain. Batting at No. 8, Ashwin has eclipsed the more 'established' Jadeja. Prior to the West Indies series, the 27-year-old had scored 616 runs in 22 innings at an average of 36.23. Compare this to Jadeja, who has scored just 97 runs in six Test-match innings. Ashwin may have started his career as a No. 8 batsman, but it would be very surprising if he finishes his career in the same batting position.
Former Indian captain and Test opener Sunil Gavaskar feels Ashwin can bat higher up in the order and says: "He is industrious, works hard on his batting and has created enough reasons to see him bat higher in the line-up." Gavaskar even goes on to say that Ashwin is a "potential leader."
Ashwin is ranked No. 3 on the ICC list for all-rounders. Unbelievably, he is just 11 rating points behind legendary South African Jacques Kallis. In his very first Test series against West Indies in 2011, Ashwin scored a match-saving century at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. During India's forgettable tour of Australia that followed, he was regularly in the 30-plus mark and scored a half-century as well. He added a further two half-centuries to his kitty during the home series against England.
By the time Australia came to India earlier this year, Ashwin was expected to perform with the bat. But scores of 3, 1, 4 and 12 led many to believe that he was just a flash in the pan. However, his well-crafted century on a slow Eden turner will silence his critics. You don't win accolades from a Gavaskar or a Dravid on batting every day. Way to go, Mr Offie!