10 Tests, 39 wickets: Write off R Ashwin at your own peril before Australia series

Star India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin had a terrible time in the New Zealand series. The spinner picked up only 9 wickets from 3 Test matches, and was faced a lot of cricticism. But here's why Indian fans should not count him out ahead of the Australia tour.

In Short

• R Ashwin picked up only 9 wickets in 3 Tests vs New Zealand
• Washington Sundar in comparison picked up 16 wickets
• Fans should not rule out Ashwin before BGT

India were hammered by New Zealand in the 3-match Test series at home. For the first time in their entire cricketing history, India lost a home series 0-3. All India senior players - Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja failed in the better part of the series, marking one of the worst Test outings for India.

Apart from the obvious focus on Rohit and Kohli's poor form, Ravichandran Ashwin got a lot of flak from fans on social media for picking only 9 wickets in the series. Ashwin's struggles were highlighted in 2 innings in particular - where Rohit Sharma did not have the confidence to hand the ball to R Ashwin when the team was defending 107 runs. And then in the final Test match of the series, when Ashwin went wicketless in the first innings of a rank turner in Mumbai.

Reports emerged after the series loss that BCCI might sit down to informally chat about the future of the top 4 players - including R Ashwin.

Ashwin, currently 38, is in the last legs of his international career. One of the biggest spinners in India's history, Ashwin's sudden dip in form is quite concerning, given India play their biggest series of the year next - against Australia, away from home.

India's chances of reaching the World Test Championship Final heavily depend on Ashwin's ability to find form and if he does not, India might opt to play Washington, who fared incredibly well in the last 2 Test matches against New Zealand and has previously done well in Australia with both bat and ball. However, is it too soon to jump the gun on Ashwin - a vetean of 105 Test matches with 536 wickets to his name.

ASHWIN IN AUSTRALIA

In the last two tours of Australia, where India won both series, Ashwin picked up 18 wickets from 4 matches. He played just one Test match in the 2018 series before getting injured and picked up 6 wickets in a game where India won by 31 runs. In the second tour under Ajinkya Rahane's captaincy, Ashwin was even better, picking up 12 wickets from 3 Tests and also contributing with a heroic innings in Sydney, which essentially set up India's incredbile win at the Gabba, helping them clinch their second straight series.

But someone of the stature of Ravi Ashwin should not have to justify a selection based on past performances. Former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull puts it the best way - that India need to select their best 5 bowlers for each Test match of the Australia series. While there would be a debate on Washington Sundar or Ravi Ashwin, any Australia would probably like to avoid Ashwin if possible.

"Many teams make a mistake of playing one extra spinner or an extra pacer when they travel away from home. I think wht India need to do is to figure out who their top five bowlers are and jut stick to them," Simon Doull said after the 3rd Test match in Mumbai.

"I think Ashwin has to be the part of the best five. I know that Washi did an exceptional job in India but the conditions will be different in Australia. I know Washi has also batted well in Australia (2020/21) but the quality that Ashwin has, and the fact that Aussies do not like him, I think he needs to have a look in as well. Ask the Aussies who you would rather face, Washi or Ashwin, and they will always say Washi," Kumble added to Simon Doull's point.

ADDED INCENTIVE

Anyone who has followed Ravichandran Ashwin's journey over the last decade would know how fiercely competitive Ashwin is as a cricketer. Ashwin is currently engaged in a rivalry with Nathan Lyon in a battle for the most scalps in the history of Test cricket. For someone like Ashwin, this series could turn out to be an added incentive to push a little more at the fag end of his career.

Ashwin has never played all matches at the BGT away from home, in fact he did not play in the World Test Championship 2023 Final against Australia either. Maybe, just maybe, with everything that has been going around in Indian cricket at the moment, Ashwin would bring out his very best at the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and prove everyone wrong.