Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin demonstrated his exceptional bowling skills by securing his 8th ten-wicket match haul in the first Test match against West Indies at Dominica. This achievement places him on par with Anil Kumble, making them the joint record holders for India. Furthermore, Ashwin is just one five-wicket haul away from matching Kumble’s record of 35 in Tests.
Kumble, India’s highest wicket-taker in Tests and an expert commentator for JioCinema, lauded Ashwin’s significant contribution, which he described as the best performance by any Indian in the West Indies.
Kumble highlighted Ashwin’s psychological prowess on the field, stating, “Ashwin plays with the batsmen’s mind. It’s not just about the skills you possess but also the ability to transfer pressure onto the batter. This was evident in the body language of every batter that faced R Ashwin.”
Kumble further noted Ashwin’s strategic use of the crease against the home team’s left-handers, particularly when he bowled to opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul. He explained, “Ashwin bowled wide off the crease, making the ball come into the left-hander. When Chanderpaul anticipated the balls coming in, Ashwin delivered a beautiful delivery that drifted in, left him, and took the off stump.”
The former Indian captain and coach also commended Ashwin’s ability to read the pitch and adjust his bowling strategy accordingly. The second Test between India and West Indies is set to commence on July 20th.
