Indian cricket Abhinav Mukund has reacted to Sanjay Manjrekar's comment of ‘not acknowledging India spinner R Ashwin as the all-time great’ and disagreed with him, calling the off-spinner a 'legend'.
R Ashwin is one of the best spinners India have ever produced the veteran off-spinner 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.
The veteran off-spinner has 30 five-wicket hauls and seven ten-wicket hauls in a match to his name and is fourth in the list of India’s leading wicket-takers behind Anil Kumble, Kapil Dev, and Harbhajan Singh.
Sanjay Manjrekar clarifies, “Gavaskar, Tendulkar, Virat are all time greats. Ashwin not quite there”
Though his overseas records are not that compelling as a home record the 34-year-old has improved exceedingly well and was in decent form in India’s triumph down undertaking 10 wickets at an average of 17.7.
Considering his inconsistent overseas performance, former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar said that he is not comfortable with Ashwin being called an all-time great, explaining how India's premier off-spinner is yet to pick up a five-wicket-haul in SENA nations (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia).
In a recent interaction on YouTube, Abhinav Mukund lauded veteran Indian off-spinner R Ashwin said that he is one of the few individuals who go on the cricket field well-prepared and his performances especially in Test cricket speaks about the same.
"He just loves the game. Ashwin is a guy who will research everything there is to cricket. He just needs to be one of those very well prepared individuals who go on to a cricket field and that kind of shows in the way he has performed, especially in Test match cricket. He’s been fantastic," Abhinav Mukund told stand-up comedian Sorabh Pant on his YouTube channel.
Reacted to Sanjay Manjrekar’s comment in which he said that ‘R Ashwin is not the legend of the game’, Mukund disagreed with former Indian cricketer’s comment saying that off-spinner deserved to be called a legend of the game because of his terrific overall record.
"I read an article today where Sanjay Manjrekar said that 'I disagree that he is a legend of the game'. I have to respectfully disagree with Mr. Manjrekar and say he is a legend of the game because he holds several world records,” he said.
R Ashwin expects Team India to perform in the WTC final like they did on Australia tour
Abhinav Mukund further while citing the example of the Border Gavaskar Trophy last year, Mukund argued that to judge Ashwin, one should look at his overall impact and the value he brings for a captain.
"The accusation towards him is that he’s never performed in SENA countries. But I think he had a fantastic tour of Australia. If you look at it that way, and if you just look at the number of five-wicket-hauls he’s taken and what an impact he’s been to as a leader, he’s probably one of the legends of the game in my opinion at least," he concluded.
R Ashwin will next be seen in action when Team India plays the final of ICC World Test Championship against New Zealand and then later five-Test series against England.
