Ravichandran Ashwin has, since his debut, been the standout bowler for India across all formats of the game. His performance in Tests has been nothing short of brilliant as he recently became the second fastest bowler to reach the 200-wicket mark in Tests.
It is not just about the wickets he takes, his contributions to the team at important junctures make him an out-and-out match-winner.
Here, we look back at his five best bowling performances in Tests.
NEW ZEALAND, HYDERABAD, 2012
From early on in his Test career, Ashwin had established himself as India’s spin spearhead and the go-to bowler for his captain. It was against New Zealand in the first Test of the series in 2012 that he was at his devastating best when he almost single-handedly destroyed the opposition.
Riding on the back of a valiant 159 from Cheteshwar Pujara and significant contributions from other batsmen, India scored 438 in the first innings. Ashwin, with his bowling partner Pragyan Ojha, then ran through the Kiwis line-up, sharing nine wickets between them.
Ashwin finished with figures of 6/31 as New Zealand were bowled out for a paltry 159 in their first innings. Asked to follow-on, they were left clueless by Ashwin’s bowling who had figures of 6/54 in the second innings.
Ashwin came away with figures of 12 for 85 from the match as India recorded a thumping win by an innings and 115 runs.
AUSTRALIA, CHENNAI, 2013
The first Test of the series showed signs of what was to come in the 2013 Test series between India and Australia as the team from Down Under, despite a good start, capitulated under pressure.
Batting first, they posted a good total of 380 on the board. Ashwin was the outstanding bowler from India with his spell of 7/103 as he accounted for most of the Aussie batsmen.
India’s response was a strong one as they posted 572 on the board in reply – thanks to a double century by then-skipper MS Dhoni – putting Australia under pressure.
In the second innings, Ashwin continued the good work, coming away with figures of 5/95 as Australia were bowled out for 241.
India easily chased down a target of 50 in the fourth innings and Ashwin had 12 wickets from the match to show for his hard work.
Fastest Indian to..
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) September 25, 2016
50 Test wkts - Ashwin
100 Test wkts - Ashwin
150 Test wkts - Ashwin
200 Test wkts - Ashwin#IndvsNZ #500thTest
AUSTRALIA, HYDERABAD, 2013
Ashwin continued his good work against Australia in the next match as it was yet another strong performance from him that saw India record a triumphant win in the second Test.
In response to Australia’s 237 in the first innings, India posted 503 thanks mainly to a tremendous double century by Pujara. Facing a significant deficit in the second innings, the Australian batsmen had no answer to Ashwin’s brilliant bowling as they were bowled out for 131.
Ashwin’s 5/63 was one of his best bowling performances as he ran through the Aussie top-order, aiding the Indian team to finish the match within four days.
Ashwin continued to torment the Australian batsmen throughout that series and was named the Man of the Series.
SRI LANKA, GALLE, 2015
This was one of the rare occasions when a brilliant bowling performance from Ashwin was ultimately in vain.
In the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle, Ashwin was almost unplayable in the first innings as he took six wickets for 46 runs, bundling up the opposition for 183.
India consolidated their position by taking a good first innings lead thanks to centuries from Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli.
Ashwin took four wickets in the second innings to come away with 10 wickets from the match.
Chasing 176 in the fourth innings, India crumbled as a brilliant bowling performance by Rangana Herath saw them suffer an unlikely defeat. Kohli’s men, however, came back strongly to win the series 2-1.
Ashwin was the Man of the Series for his 22 wickets.
SOUTH AFRICA, NAGPUR, 2015
The Proteas had a tough time in the 2015 Freedom Series countering the threat of Ashwin, but it was in the third Test at Nagpur that they felt the full force of the Indian off-spinner as he was at his unplayable best.
India had a poor outing with the bat in the first innings as they could only post 215 on the board on a tough pitch, but as on so many occasions in the past, they were rescued by the brilliance of Ashwin.
South Africa were humiliated in the first innings as they were bowled out for 79. Ashwin took 5/32 and was the wrecker-in-chief.
India could only manage 173 in the second innings, setting a target of 310 for South Africa.
That was always going to be too many runs for the visitors as they once again had no answer to Ashwin’s bowling. They could only manage to score 185 as Ashwin took 7/66 to come away with 12 wickets from the match.
