It is only when something is no longer within reach that one understands its true value. Indian spin legend Anil Kumble borrowed from the above sentiment while referring to the other great spin wizard, Ravichandran Ashwin, even though he maintained that India had not used Ashwin properly when he played for the country.
Soon after the Gabba leg BGT Test was drawn, Ashwin took retirement from the international arena. He entered the press conference with captain Rohit Sharma, announcing that it was officially the last day of his international career.
Kumble, who remains India’s most successful test-wicket-taker with 619 wickets, had Ashwin in second with 537, appreciated heaps upon the legendary off-spinner, dubbing him a ‘matchwinner’.
“Ravichandran Ashwin is a matchwinner. He is a thoroughgoing professional in his glory across his career. Every time you see him bowl, you know that he wants to keep getting better and outwit the batter in whatever circumstances. You want to see that in any cricketer, but he has done that for 14-15 years,” Kumble wrote in his article for Sportstar.
Kumble has not minced words while indicating the failings of the Indian team regarding maximum utility of Ashwin during his career, as well as the misconception of the term-“spinner” applied to the now retired Ashwin.
The way I see it, the team management did not pick him regularly in these conditions across England, South Africa, and Australia, which has always Baffled me. The fact that you have Ravindra Jadeja bowling in tandem makes this duo a must-have in every game. Ashwin has taken wickets on every surface he has played on. So to typecast him as a spinner, mostly in subcontinent conditions, is not fair.”
Much has been spoken about the timing and the farewell that Ashwin had for his retirement, and Kumble expressed his disappointment on that front too, noting how the off-spinner deserved “a grand farewell”.
“Players who have been doing this for such a long time deserve a grand farewell. They should be sat down and offered an appropriate plan on how you want them to leave the game. I was very disappointed with the way Ashwin left,” Kumble wrote.
“Many cricketers in the past miss their farewells, too. The kind of benchmarks he has set will not be attainable easily by anyone. He served Indian cricket with distinction.”
He has 24 wickets per average in 106 Tests. He is also the seventh overall in the wicket-taking list.
