What The Numbers Say

Here’s a STATISTICAL ANALYSIS of five prominent contemporary Indian spinners.

- Ayan Acharya

Offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin's emergence as India’s spin spearhead coincided with the team’s rapid ascent to the top in world cricket. A quintessential part of the team, Ashwin’s 292 wickets from 52 Tests at 25.26 has made him a potent weapon in the longer format.

A total of 84 wickets from 20 Tests away from home at an average of 31.75 suggests his away record requires greater polish but in India, where the conditions are conducive for spin bowling, the 31-year-old boasts an envious tally.

His 208 wickets from 32 Tests at 22.64 speak of an increased effectiveness on turning tracks where batsmen struggle against his carrom ball, arm ball and the traditional off breaks.

However, Ashwin has failed to replicate that success in limited overs cricket, where he has 150 scalps from 111 ODIs at 32.91. The tweaker’s overseas struggles also continue here as he has managed only 42 wickets from 41 ODIs at an extremely poor average of 42.78.

One criticism of Ashwin has been his line and length in the abridged versions, slightly on the shorter side around middle and leg allowing batsmen to score easily off his bowling. That said, there’s no denying that his rapid development as a bowler will hold India in good stead in the future.

Ravindra Jadeja