Former New Zealand cricketer Daniel Vettori feels that R Ashwin can surpass Anil Kumble’s tally of 619 wickets to become India's leading Test wicket-taker.
R Ashwin is currently one of the best spinners going around in world cricket. Over the years the ace off-spinner has been the mainstay of the Indian bowling line-up in the longest format of the game.
Time and time again R Ashwin has proved his mettle. The premier off-spinner's tally of more than 419 Test wickets in just 80 Test matches depicts the kind of impact he has in Test cricket.
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In the recently concluded first Test against New Zealand in Kanpur, which ended in a draw, R Ashwin added another feather in his hat as he surpassed Harbhajan Singh’s tally of 417 wickets to become the third-highest wicket-taker for India in Test cricket.
The premier Indian off-spinner is currently on 419 wickets and is only 16 wickets behind to become the second-highest wicket-taker for India in the longest format of the game.
While it is almost certain that he’ll surpass Kapil Dev, who has 434 wickets, he can also become India’s leading wicket-taker in Test cricket. Although Ashwin is 200 wickets behind Anil Kumble’s tally of 619 wickets, but at the pace, he is going, the off-spinner looks well poised to set new records.
Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, Daniel Vettori said that R Ashwin is far from done and can make a run at Anil Kumble to become India’s highest wicket-taker in Tests.
Vettori praised Ashwin for the way he has evolved, saying that he has been dominant in different scenarios for India. He pointed out that off-spinner is always learning and trying to get better.
"He (Ashwin) is far from done. He's comfortably gonna end up as India's second-highest wicket-taker and maybe he could make a run at Kumble as well. I think for someone who has been so dominant in so many different scenarios for India.
“He is so reliable, particularly in home conditions. The pace at which he takes wickets is phenomenal. The way he has evolved... his variations... the bowler that he was to the bowler that he has become. He is always learning, always trying to get better," Daniel Vettori said.
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Daniel Vettori said that despite being one of the best spinners in the world it’s ‘fascinating, to see R Ashwin getting a dropped. He stressed that even though Ravindra Jadeja gets preferred over him, he keeps coming back strongly.
“While all this he is one of the best spinners for India and in world cricket, he regularly gets dropped. It is fascinating to sit back and see a guy who averages over five wickets in a Test and is a consistent match-winner gets left out of the team, and how Jadeja gets preferred over him. But he keeps coming back," he said.
R Ashwin will next be seen in action when India takes on New Zealand in the second Test match in Mumbai on 3rd December.
(ESPNCricinfo inputs)
