'Kapil Dev is at the top. But Ashwin should be considered one of India's very good all-rounders', says New Zealand great
While the legendary Kapil Dev still stands out as India's best all-rounder of all time, a former New Zealand all-rounder feels R Ashwin isn't too far behind.
R Ashwin has made tremendous growth, not only with his bowling but also with the bat in his hand. Besides being India's third-highest wicket-taker in Tests, Ashwin has also scored 2755 runs from 80 Tests. Now while those may not be staggering numbers, the fact that Ashwin has hit five Test centuries holds him in good stead. Even in the second innings of the Kanpur Test against New Zealand, it was Ashwin's partnership with Shreyas Iyer, that bailed India out of a spot on Day 4, where he scored a crucial 32.
While the legendary Kapil Dev still stands out as India's best all-rounder of all time, former New Zealand all-rounder Craig McMillan feels Ashwin isn't too far behind. When it comes to Indian all-rounders, not many names come to mind… probably an Ajit Agarkar, Irfan Pathan, Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja, but McMillan reckons Ashwin will already go down as one of India's finest in that category.
"I think perhaps that R Ashwin doesn’t get enough credit. He is not only a great spinner but an all-rounder because he has a number of Test hundreds as well. And most of it have come – when you think of the one against England earlier this year – came at an important time in Chennai when India were under the pump, behind in the game. Ashwin scored a hundred and turns the game and takes wickets," McMillan said on Cricket.com.
"We always talk about the great Indian all-rounders, and Kapil Dev is right at the top of the tree, but I firmly think that after him, with the numbers he is achieving, Ravi Ashwin should be considered one of India’s very good allrounder."
Ashwin, who was rested from all four Test matches in England, returned to the format grabbing six in the Kanpur Test where he surpassed Harbhajan Singh to be placed only next to Anil Kumble and Kapil Dev. As India head into the second Test in Kanpur, Ashwin is eyeing three huge records , including achieving 50 Test wickets for the fourth time in a year and chasing Kumble's 300 wickets at home, the most by an Indian bowler.