Ashwin, Jadeja India’s
STANDING TALL Spinners have been instrumental in India’s success at home, the hosts have won 10 of the last 11 Tests INDIAN SPINNERS AT HOME SINCE 2012-13
KANPUR: For a while, a section of the sparse crowd on Monday began raising anti-Pakistan slogans. But they soon changed tack and focused on India’s win. The anti-Pak sentiment was due to the frosty relations between the two nations, who also occupy the top two spots in Test rankings.
India were displaced from the No 1 spot by Pakistan, whose gritty show in England earned them the honour for the first time.
Virat Kohli’s men are clawing back. They have the comfort of playing 13 Tests at home, where they are enjoying an unbeaten streak. A successful home campaign, which began with the creaming of New Zealand by 197 runs at the Green Park on Monday, could help them grab the spot with a comfortable cushion.
IMPRESSIVE STATS
Of the last 11 Tests at home, since the 1-2 reversal against England in 2011-12, India have won 10 and while their batting hasn’t always exuded confidence, spinners R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have ensured the team is always a step ahead.
India will need these two, who took 16 of the 20 Kiwi wickets here, in their prime over the next few months if they want to excel.
Ashwin has the skill while Jadeja sticks to accuracy and subtle variation in pace.
The two were always going to test the Kiwis who had to bat out the day. Luke Ronchi and Mitchell Santner, neither an accomplished batsman, began well.
More than the pitch, the game The Indians couldn’t get an early success as Mitchell Santner and Luke Ronchi (in pic) took their partnership to 102 runs from the overnight 37. The two took on the India bowlers on a wicket that played comparatively easy early on. was panning out in the mind. A capacity crowd raising a din on Sunday had perhaps overawed the Kiwis. They lost wickets to pressure. Monday, being a working day, let only a few fans in during the morning session. It gave the visitors some relief. But soon Ronchi lost composure and his wicket. Jadeja had broken through. There was some resistance but it wasn’t enough.
Kohli later said he believed batting out the last day was always out of the question. He knew his spinners would keep the Kiwis in fear.
“On a wicket that spins and bounces, you need to put the bowler under pressure,” said Kohli. Putting pressure on the India spinners was wishful thinking, as they are experienced on such surfaces.
Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson said they put the ball in the right areas for a long time.
Of Ashwin’s 203 wickets, 136 have come in India and 162 in Asia. Of Jadeja’s 77 scalps, 56 have come in India.
The last series India won at home, against South Africa, too had an imprint of the two and they covered the failing batsmen well.
After Monday’s win, Kohli conceded the batting needed to be strengthened. Buckle up is what he means as they did well in the second innings when the Kiwis had already lost the plot.
But so long as India have the spinners, he needn’t worry at home. “Well, obviously if you have a bowler of his (Ashwin’s) quality, along with Jadeja who is so accurate,” he added. In a rush of blood, Ronchi tried to hit left-arm spinner and Man-ofthe-Match Ravindra Jadeja out of the ground. He played across the line and the ball ballooned up to the fielder at point. It was the wicket India needed and it ended the Kiwi resistance.
BJ Watling was trying to defy the Indians along with Santner. He, however, fell to an iffy decision. With his departure, Santner was left to wage a lone battle. He soon ran out of partners. on crucial runs put up by Jadeja, Ashwin and Umesh Yadav on the match Pragyan Ojha 20, R Ashwin 14, Piyash Chawla 4, Ravindra Jadeja 3,Harbhajan 2 Ravichadran Ashwin 29, Ravindra Jadeja 24, Pragyan Ojha 7, Harbhajan Singh 5 Ravichadran Ashwin 12, Pragyan Ojha 11, Sachin Tendulkar 1 Ravichandran Ashwin 31,Ravindra Jadeja 23,Amit Mishra 7 Ravichandran Ashwin 10,Ravindra Jadeja 6 Ravichandran Ashwin 96, Ravindra Jadeja 56, Pragyan Ojha 38, Amit Mishra 7, Harbhajan Singh 7, Piyush Chawla 4, Sachin Tendulkar 1
One of the most important things in Tests is to have a strong lower-order...and this is one area we are working hard on, everyone from Ashwin onwards wants to contribute...that puts a psychological dent on the opposition It has been a memorable Test match. Me and Ashwin were chatting that it is going to be exciting and we have to play our best to keep them under pressure