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Former Indian keeper-batter Dinesh Karthik believes that Ravichandran Ashwin's name should be counted among the greatest all-rounders to have played the sport of cricket. He pointed out how the veteran spinner's record speaks for itself.
Karthik suggested that the fans and experts tend to be unfair at times by criticizing Ashwin for an odd underwhelming performance in Test cricket. Speaking to Cricubzz after India's thumping 280-run win over Bangladesh in the recently concluded Chennai Test, the cricketer-turned-commentator said:
"Some of the records that he's tumbling are just quite flabbergasting, to say the least. You have to put him in the greats of the game who has played among all-rounders. We speak about the number of hundreds and fifers taken in one game, he is just behind Ian Botham.
"You speak about the number of wickets picked, he's just eighth in that list. If you see the strike rates of the bowlers who have picked more than 400 wickets, only Dale Steyn ahead of him. Sometimes I feel we are a tad bit unfair to him when we say, 'Oh, he's not done well. Oh, he could have done better here.'"
Karthik also opined that the experienced bowler has established himself as a sure-shot starter for India's home Test series. Suggesting that the Men in Blue cannot think to play at home without Ashwin in the side, he added:
"There was a phase in Indian cricket where you could do away with one or two batters if they were not around but you couldn't do away without Anil Kumble. I think Ashwin has taken over that mantle where you can't play a home series without him. He is the deal breaker. It's a make-or-break if Ashwin is there in the team or not."
Ravichandran Ashwin stole the show at Chennai, his home ground. He notched up his sixth Test century, scoring 113 in the first innings. While he remained wicketless with the ball in Bangladesh's first innings, he made amends with a six-wicket haul in the subsequent essay and was adjudged the 'Player of the Match.'
"In COVID, there were a few things that happened internally" - Dinesh Karthik on Ravichandran Ashwin
In the aforementioned video, Dinesh Karthik also spoke about how Ravichandran Ashwin had been a changed man since the COVID-19 pandemic. He mentioned that the seasoned campaigner started his YouTube channel during the time and found something that he could pursue after hanging up his boots.
Karthik added:
"In COVID, there were a few things that happened internally I feel. Being alone for long periods of time, he started his YouTube channel. I think in many ways, the distraction, cricketing wise, outside of the cricketing ground that he's able to foresee for the future because as you come to the end of your career, the one thing that cricketers would like is 'What after'.
"But if you've kind of made things ready for you when you leave the game, it leaves you in a better place to go into that new era of your life."
India have taken a 1-0 lead in the two-match home series against Bangladesh. The second and final Test will be played at Green Park in Kanpur from September 27.
