Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, India’s formidable spin duo, have evolved into exceptional all-rounders, excelling with both bat and ball. Their partnership has been instrumental in India’s success on home soil, where they have shared the responsibility of finishing matches and engineering crucial counterattacks.
Jadeja’s recent achievement of reaching 300 Test wickets in Kanpur highlights his understated contributions to the team. Despite Ashwin’s impressive tally of over 500 Test wickets, Jadeja’s credentials often go unnoticed.
However, Ashwin acknowledges Jadeja’s value, stating, “He is the second left-arm spinner to 300 wickets. I think he has got 3000 runs. These are no mean achievements.”
With the upcoming Australia tour, the debate over their place in the playing XI will resurface. Based on recent overseas selection trends, Jadeja is likely to be preferred over Ashwin.
Ashwin, however, has embraced a flexible outlook, prioritizing the team’s success over individual accolades. “If he (Jadeja) plays, I will bat for him all day, all night,” he said. “It doesn’t cross my head anymore at all.”
Ashwin’s shift in perspective stems from the team’s overseas triumphs. “Going to another country, especially a country like Australia or England, and your team putting in an extraordinary performance and you winning a Test match, makes me an incredibly proud Indian,” he explained.
Former coach Rahul Dravid’s words have also influenced Ashwin’s mindset. “He used to say when you finish, you will remember the moments and celebrations, not the numbers.”
