Expectations ride high on warhorse Ashwin
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CROSSROAD Going into the fiveTest series, India’s No 1 spinner will look to turn around his fortunes away from home
always have their task cut out in England, the dry weather means there will be expectations on Ashwin delivering wickets. However, that would depend on how ready he is to turn around his fortunes away from home and whether his skipper still believes his seasoned spinner is still his No 1 away from home.
Ashwin will be a certainty if the Indian team management picks two spinners, but at this point Chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav is pushing for a spot as the one who can deliver wickets and keep England batsmen guessing. Spinners, barring a select few, have not done too well in England, Australia or South Africa. The heroics of B Chandrasekhar in 1971 and Vinoo Mankad before him is testimony to India spinners making a splash in England.
But Ashwin’s bowling has strangely lost the sting after the man who made his mark for India through T20 cricket being sidelined for the limited-overs teams in the last one year. He faded away in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy final, which convinced the Indian team management that wrist spin is the way to go. But with Kuldeep looking a certainty and even legspinner Yuzvendra Chahal being goaded to play first-class cricket to prepare him for Tests in future, Ashwin will be under huge pressure going into this tour.
But the lack of bite on pitches away from home has seen Ashwin struggle. In 2014, he played in the last two Tests as India slid to a 3-1 defeat from 1-0 up. He went wicketless at Old Trafford in his first game and took 3/72 at The Oval, India losing both games.
Ashwin’s 12 wickets in three Tests in Australia after that, after being kept out of the first in Adelaide by stand-in skipper Kohli who picked rookie leg-spinner Karn Sharma, proved a false dawn.
Not playing white-ball cricket can’t help, but Ashwin trying to hone leg-spin has left many experts skeptical about his focus. While his Aussie counterpart Nathan Lyon has spoken about discussing technique with Ashwin, he has stuck to his strength regardless of the chances he gets.
Bowling leg-spin has reflected anxiety over the limited-overs snub and have not played paid dividends even in local matches.
Former India spinner Maninder Singh urged Ashwin to stick to his strength. “I’m waiting to see how he goes in the series. When you are not playing regular cricket, it’s not easy.
“He is a very balanced person, but he is no doubt under pressure with these two spinners (Kuldeep and Chahal) there.”
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