Veteran India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik feels it's unfair to read too much into Ravichandran Ashwin's performances in the SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia) countries, citing that the off-spinner has the ability to dismiss quality batsmen and he is a keen student of the game who wants to keep improving.
Karthik’s comment came in the wake of former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar’s statement that Ashwin isn't yet there in the list of all-time greats as he does not have a 5-wicket haul in SENA countries.
Only the fourth Indian bowler to claim 400 Test wickets, Ashwin has 63 wickets to his name in SENA nations from 20 games at an average of over 40.
See Also: Twitterati react after Sanjay Manjrekar refuses to give "all-time great" tag to R Ashwin
"When it comes to Ashwin, a lot of things have been said about his performances in SENA continues. I think it's a tad bit unfair. Even if you see the way he has bowled in Australia, the pressure he has been able to create and his ability to get good batsmen out," Karthik said while speaking to Sports Today.
"You have to understand the quality of pace bowlers we have. When we go abroad, they tend to pick up a lot of wickets. A spinner's role, a lot of times, especially when the pitch doesn't do much is to not give too many runs and Ashwin does it brilliantly well. When it comes to playing in India, we have seen the wickets he picks, he is an absolute legend in India and he has put up so many performances and won more Man of the Series Awards for India than anybody else in such a short time.
"When there are so many things to speak in favour of him, human beings, being human beings, focus on something that he has not done. I think what he has provided when India has toured abroad.. He has not been able to take the five-fors but he has been able to pick up wickets, bowling long spells and keep it tight.
"As an opposition, you look at Ashwin and always think he is a guy whom we need to play carefully. He is not a random bloke who just turns up, he will have a plan, he knows what he is doing and gives you a lot with the bat at No. 8. He is probably one of the better No. 8s going around. For me, he is a fighter, a very skilled cricketer and a student of the game who wants to keep improving. He will know what this Indian team requires from him when they travel abroad and I think he will try and fulfil that role to his best," he explained.
Dinesh Karthik also shared his two cents on India’s playing XI for the WTC final against New Zealand in Southampton, suggesting that both Ravindra Jadeja and Ashwin should be in the line-up.
"I definitely feel both Jadeja and Ashwin should play together. A, they are a very potent combination. B, it's Southampton and it aids a bit of turn. I have no doubt they can cause inroads. If India put up a good first innings total, India have the spinners who have the ability to get wickets.
"I will be very surprised if one of them doesn't play. Knowing the Indian team, they are always a positive team. Ravi Shastri has always taken the positive route. He is someone who has taken pride in the way he has played the sport and made India play in the last 2 years.
(Inputs from India Today)
