Ponting Praises Ashwin as ‘Master of Spin’ Ahead of His 100th Test
As Ravichandran Ashwin stands on the brink of his 100th Test match, he is set to become the 14th Indian cricketer to achieve this milestone. This marks a significant point in an illustrious career that many budding cricketers aspire to.
With every game, Ashwin continues to break records. In the ongoing series against England, he not only surpassed the 500-wicket mark but also overtook Anil Kumble’s record for the most Test wickets in India and the highest number of five-wicket hauls. Currently, he is only behind ICC Hall of Famers Muttiah Muralidaran, Shane Warne, and Richard Hadlee in terms of Test five-fors.
Former Australian captain, Ricky Ponting, who worked closely with Ashwin at Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) where he is the head coach, lauded Ashwin’s skills.
“Ashwin is a master of spin in any conditions,” Ponting said. “He’s been an incredible cricketer, no doubt about it.
“I had the opportunity to coach him for a couple of years at Delhi, and I loved working with him. He has many theories and philosophies on the game, which I really appreciate. He’s always done things a little differently and in his own way. But he just continued to evolve as a bowler.
“What I loved about him when I was coaching him was that he’d stand at the end of his mark and he’d be working on something different, a little tweak to his action or a change of grip or a different delivery. He’s never been one to shy away from trying to find ways to get better.”
Related: Ashwin Reflects on His Journey Ahead of His 100th Test
After securing an unassailable 3-1 lead in the fourth Test in Ranchi, India now shifts its focus to the final game in Dharamsala. The team aims to accumulate crucial World Test Championship points and make Ashwin’s 100th Test a memorable occasion.
Currently ranked No.1 in the WTC25 standings, Rohit Sharma’s men will be looking to maintain their position, having surged to the top courtesy of Australia’s win over New Zealand in Wellington.