A spin team living a dream

With Ashwin and Jadeja in their element, India are almost impossible to beat at home

- Sanjjeev K Samyal

AHMEDABAD: They don't send the stumps flying like Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis and aren't as electrifying to watch as Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath were, but R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, when operating together in India, make life just as difficult for batters.

And that is something the Australians will vouch for. The first full series they played together was against Australia in 2012-13 at home. Ashwin finished with 29 wickets, Jadeja pocketed 24 wickets and the Ash-Jaddu partnership was born. The Michael Clarke-led side was whitewashed 4-0.

Since that series taking India on at home has been a nightmare for opposition batting lineups. The best-laid plans are often of no consequence. Driven by the ambition of ending India's domination, the current Australian team was among the best prepared to visit in recent years. They put up a tremendous fight, but again came a cropper against the spin duo as Ashwin bagged 25 wickets and Jadeja picked up 22.

As the Border-Gavaskar series ended, Australia's main batter and stand-in captain Steve Smith said it was very difficult to beat India in India with Ashwin-Jadeja in the side percentage "India are a quality side, they have got two tremendous spin bowlers (Ashwin and Jadeja), two who have done it for a very long time. They are very, very difficult to beat, especially in India," said Smith.