Ever since his exploits with the new ball for the Chennai Super Kings under Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s leadership, Ashwin has grown from strength to strength to become India’s frontline spinner in all formats. Known for his wide range of deliveries, he has bamboozled the best of batsmen with his shrewd bowling. He is also a dependable lower order batsman, with four Test tons under his belt.
On the occasion of his 30th birthday, we take a look at five unforgettable moments from his international career:
#5 22 wickets and a century in his debut series
Included in the team primarily as a bowler, Ashwin showed remarkable versatility to score a Test hundred in his very first series. His assured strokeplay, level-headedness and sound technique made everyone sit up and notice the batting prowess of this off-spinner.
And he did his primary job pretty convincingly as well, picking up 22 wickets in his first three Tests, and suddenly establishing himself as a frontline spinner in the team, edging out Harbhajan Singh in the process.u
#4 Final over in Champions Trophy 2013
The only major ICC title that was missing from Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s cabinet before 2013 was the Champions Trophy. In a sensational finish that went down till the last ball, India defeated England by a mere five runs to clinch the title. They managed to defend a meagre total of 127, especially because of Ishant Sharma’s inspired bowling in his second spell.
The 20th over started on the wrong note for India, when Stuart Broad swept Ashwin for a boundary. The bowler, however, held his nerves, conceding just four runs off the next two balls to keep things in check. With six required off the last ball, Ashwin bowled with a slight variation, holding up a little in his delivering stride, and tossing up the last ball that was missed completely James Tredwell, giving India a narrow win.
#3 Spell of 4-8 in a T20I against Sri Lanka, 2016
Ashwin helped India retain their No.1 title in T20Is with a spell of 4-8 against Sri Lanka earlier this year to notch up their first bilateral T20I series win. Giving the ball some serious rip off the pitch, Ashwin bettered his own spell of 4-11 to record the then best figures by an Indian bowler in T20Is.
He sent back the top-four Sri Lankan batsmen within the first five overs itself, and was well supported by part-timer Suresh Raina, who chipped in with figures of 2-9. Nehra, Bumrah and Jadeja also contributed with a wicket apiece. The Lankans were bundled out for 82 all out, and India won by nine wickets.
#2 ‘T20 ball of the century’, 2014
Ashwin is known for his wide array of variations, and even changes his bowling action to suit a particular type of delivery. During a T20I between India and South Africa, he bamboozled Hashim Amla with a ball that pitched outside leg, and surprisingly turned back in, crashing into the off stump. The ‘carrom ball’ flummoxed the commentators and batsman alike, and was in news for a number of days. Adam Gilchrist reportedly termed the delivery as the ‘T20 ball of the century’, indicating the similarity between Shane Warne’s ball of the century to Mike Gatting in 1993.
Ashwin also dismissed Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers to finish with figures of 4-0-22-3.
#1 West Indies tour, 2016
It is a well-documented fact that Ashwin reserves his best for the West Indies. Before this series, both his Test hundreds had been against the same opponents.
He took 17 wickets in four Tests, two of which were rain-truncated matches. With the bat, he was sent in at number 6, ahead of Wriddhiman Saha, and was the fourth highest run scorer for the Indian team, garnering 235 runs at an average of 59. He scored two more centuries, taking his overall tally to four. India won the series 2-0.
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