Veteran wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has showered rich praise on R Ashwin for his match-winning exploits in the second Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka on Sunday (December 25).

Hailing him as India’s go-to man, Karthik said Ashwin has taken over the mantle as match-winner in Tests from the legendary Anil Kumble.

Chasing 145 to win the second Test, the visitors were reeling at 74/7. Amid the pressure situation, Ashwin produced an unbeaten knock of 42 and added an unbeaten 71-run stand with Shreyas Iyer (29*) to take India over the finishing line with three wickets in hand.

“He (Ashwin) is India's go-to man. I think in the previous decade, there have not been many series win without Anil Kumble being part of the Indian team. That's what stats say and that is very true as well. India found really hard to win home series without him and that mantle has been taken over by Ashwin,” said Karthik while speaking on Cricbuzz.

He further mentioned that Ashwin makes a major contribution in most series that are played in the Indian sub-continent.

“He makes a major contribution in most of the series that's played in the sub-continent, he has a very decent away record as well. But let's talk about sub-continent at the moment because that is what India will be facing, to play Australia in India. He is the key man because Australia definitely....he(Ashwin) rather has a mental edge over Australia over a period of time and that needs to happen and come through for India to have a successful Test series against Australia,” Karthik added.

According to Dinesh Karthik, Ashwin is terrific in the longest format and knows how to get under the opposition’s skin.

“He is a terrific cricketer in this long format. He is somebody who handles pressure well. He knows how to get under the skin of an opposition. He's got so much going for him in this longer format,” he stated.