A very odd turn by cricket's reigning master of spin

In the middle of the tributes and praise being showered upon Ravichandran Ashwin, it appears to be a bit churlish to ask, but why now?

- By Sharda Ugra

In the middle of a series? Let's keep that for later. After paying due salutes to a cricketer whose India career began as a white-ball bowler with a bagful of tricks, but finished as a Test giant. You'd have heard it by now, but this is Ashwin as of today: India's second-highest Test wicket-taker after Anil Kumble, No 4 on the all-time spinners' list behind Muthiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne and Kumble; No 7 overall.

Behind those numbers is Ashwin, the competitor - leader of India's spin attack with success and ferocity, a major figure as India pushed towards becoming an all-format team capable of taking on anyone anywhere. His alliance with Ravindra Jadeja was to establish India's unbeatable domestic run in home Test series for over 12 years, before the crushing 3-0 defeat to New Zealand a few months ago.

Earlier in his career, Ashwin was part of India's two ICC title-winning teams, the 2011 World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy, in which he played in two matches each. It was in his 14 away Test victories where Ashwin's influence must also be recognised. He took 71 wickets in those vital Test wins at an average (22.53) and an economy (2.58) better than his overall record, and a strike rate of 52.3. He was central to India's 2015 Test series triumph in Sri Lanka after 22 years, player of the series with 21 wickets. When India beat West Indies 2-0 a year later, he was player of the series again, with 17 wickets and two centuries in the two wins.

At home, he loomed in 47 Test victories, 303 wickets @18.16, SR 39.9. Post 2011, India started preparing rank turners at home as a Test match policy following two 4-0, 4-0 drubbings in England and Australia. Ashwin often opened the bowling in Tests, leaving visiting batters hapless and clueless at his accuracy and relentlessness.