Former Pakistan skipper Ramiz Raja lauded veteran Indian off-spinner R Ashwin saying that he is a ‘one-off genius’ and bowlers like him do not come too often.

R Ashwin is inarguably one of the best spinners India has ever produced and he has represented India in 78 Test matches and bagged 409 wickets at an average of 24.69 to his name and also became the second-faster bowler in Tests to breach the 400-wicket milestone.

His tally of 409 wickets includes 30 five-wicket hauls and seven ten-wicket hauls in a match. The 34-year-old is fourth in the list of India’s leading wicket-takers behind Anil Kumble (619), Kapil Dev (434), and Harbhajan Singh (417). 

R Ashwin expects Team India to perform in the WTC final like they did on Australia tour

In an interaction with India News, former Pakistan skipper Ramiz Raja lauded R Ashwin. He said that the off-spinner is a ‘one-off genius’ and bowlers like him are very rare. 

"Ashwin is an amazing off-spinner. He has the floater, he spins the ball, delivers the ball from different angles and is intelligent. A one-off genius like him comes very rarely. So you should value him a lot," Ramiz Raja told India News. 

While talking about the lack of quality off-spinners in Pakistan cricket after the retirements of Saqlain Mushtaq and Saeed Ajmal, Raja said that since doosra has been outlawed, spinners should learn from R Ashwin. 

"The two individuals you talked about, they had based their greatness on the Doosra. Since the time the Doosra has been sidelined, the spinners have to show themselves like Ashwin," he said. 

R Ashwin will next be seen in action when Team India will face New Zealand in the final of ICC World Test Championship and then five-Test series against England.

If the off-spinner manages to take 26 wickets in the UK tour he will move to second in the wicket-taking charts of Indian bowlers. 

(India News)