Top 5 learnings for India from the New Zealand Test series

#2 Ravichandran Ashwin’s legacy

Ashwin seems to be at the peak of his prowess

At the end of the series, Ravichandran Ashwin’s Test record reads – 220 wickets from 39 matches at an average of 24.29 and strike-rate of 49.4. In fact, no spinner has ever taken 200 Test wickets at an average under 25 and strike-rate below 50.

Despite question marks surrounding his skills outside Asia and West Indies, Ashwin’s menace on conducive subcontinental pitches is deadly.

Though naysayers would inevitably point out to the role of tailor-made turning pitches in India as the primary reason behind his gargantuan rise, the Tamil Nadu off-spinner has no reason to downplay his achievements when plenty of visiting spin bowlers have got opportunities to play on these pitches, and almost every modern-day player being extremely dominant at home.

Ashwin is on a hot streak of winning the Player of the Series award for seven of the eight series that India has won since his debut, and skipper Kohli will want him to extend his form against England and Australia as well.