Former Indian batsman Sanjay Manjrekar feels that the time has come for Ravichandran Ashwin to emulate his home success in overseas conditions. He also reiterated his long-held stance that Ravichandran Ashwin isn’t as good a match-winner in SENA countries as he is on spin-friendly tracks.
Ashwin was the pick of the bowlers for India on Day 3 of the World Test Championship (WTC) final against New Zealand. The veteran off-spinner bowled with great discipline, giving India the first breakthrough in the form of the New Zealand vice-captain, Tom Latham. Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, Sanjay Manjrekar said:
“He is surely a high-class bowler but I will again tell everyone that he’s a brilliant match-winner on turning pitches in India. But this is his third tour to England – he’s been to Australia three times and twice to South Africa – and here he hasn’t shown a long impactful spell yet to win the game for India. The time has come for Ashwin to do just that.”
The 55-year-old also observed that Ashwin’s dismissal of Latham was atypical of him. After Ashwin got the better of Latham, Ishant Sharma provided India with the second wicket as half-centurion Devon Conway was caught at mid-on by Mohammed Shami. New Zealand will resume play on Day 4 at 101/2, trailing India by 116 runs.