Ravichandran Ashwin recently added another feather to his cap by completing his 11th Player-of-the-Series award thus equaling the career high of the legendary Mattia Muralitharan for the most such accolades in Test cricket history. Such stellar outings with bat and ball had been instrumental in India comprehensive win over Bangladesh in their two-match Test series that ended 2-0.
The series did plot out ample evidence of Ashwin abundant talent and immense versatility. He finished on a hot note taking 11 wickets. which ended the tournament as the highest wicket-taker too. Jasprit Bumrah finished with the same number of wickets as Ashwin but Ashwin run-making century in the Chennai Test sealed the deal for him regarding the Player-of-the-Series award. This century helped India come out of a precarious position but it also marked something significant with the bat in adding considerable runs to the scoreboard complementing his skills as a bowler.
Although the board and batting department can boast about this newfound achievement there is some interesting stuff surrounding the record book stature of Ashwin. Reportedly according to The Indian Express had there been no procedural blunder on India tour of the Caribbean last year Ashwin would have already surpassed Muralitharan record. That was the start of a two-Test match series initiated newly in the cycle of the ICC World Test Championship.
In that series India emerged 1-0 winner and Ashwin was the star performer taking 15 wickets and putting in a half century in one of the matches. Such incredible performance made him a strong candidate for Player-of-the-Series but after the second Test in Port of Spain no one ever presented it to leave his ultimate recognition in a state of limbo.
The controversy surrounding the missing award was blamed on a miscommunication between Cricket West Indies (CWI) and an Indian agency responsible for managing the series’ sponsorship. CWI insists that the onus is on the Indian agency to provide the Player-of-the-Series award. In its defense, the agency states that the onus is on CWI to accomplish the task. Such confusion results in Ashwin missing out on what most analysts believe was a well-deserved recognition of his exceptional contributions during the series.
Ashwin in fact was all along born with an understanding of the game and tactics often became a game-changer for him through the course of his cricketing career. His ability to read batsmen and adapt his strategies to counter the particular batsman has made a big difference for him. Besides he is also very resilient and his work ethic has allowed him to overcome lots of small challenges such as injuries or fluctuations in form keeping him at the very top of international cricketing.
Ravichandran Ashwin Blockbuster 3-Word Reaction After Jasprit Bumrah Overtakes
Jasprit Bumrah regains top position as number one Test bowler. Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah regained his spot at the top of the ICC Test Rankings after a brilliant show that helped the team win over Bangladesh by seven wickets in Kanpur For the second week in succession, Bumrah claims the summit this time pushing his teammate Ravichandran Ashwin off the top position. In Bangladesh he was outstanding, taking six wickets while picking three in both innings that has made him surge on the ratings.
Bumrah success establishes his capability and consistency as he has now scored 870 points just one behind Ashwin who also had a notable game taking five wickets by the same match. Such has been the healthy competition between these two match-winners that when Bumrah won recently, Ashwin took to social media to laud his success by posting an Instagram story reading “You belong here. According to him this is a representation of the supportive atmosphere in the Indian team where players continuously applaud each other.
Bangladesh had a reason to be proud over their own improvement. Minhaidy Hasan made four spots better to take 18th position in Test bowling. while Shakib Al Hasan climbed five places to 28th the other distinguished veteran spinner. These moves prove that the bowlers in the Bangladesh team are solidifying gradually and they hope that this improvement would reflect the brighter side of the performances in future series.
Along with the bowlers there has been a significant movement of batsmen too. The young Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal has made news by winning Player of the Match in Bangladesh in the rain-affected Test. These superb scores of 72 and 51 have seen him climb two places to a career-best third in the Test batting rankings. He has not only proved himself to be a kind of bonafide talent but also a gun for a top-order batting spot in the Indian team specially with his current ranking placing him second among all batsmen only behind England Joe Root and New Zealand Kane Williamson.
Veteran Indian batsman Virat Kohli also made strides as he moved six places to reach sixth on the rankings. His scores of 47 and an unbeaten 29 in the Bangladesh series helped him improve his standing. It is important that Kohli continues establishing himself as a key player for India even as new talents like Jaiswal emerge.
The other Lankan who caught everyone attention was Sri Lanka Prabath Jayasuriya, who rose to the equal seventh position in the Test rankings while grabbing his career-best rating. His match-winning bowling with 18 scalps against New Zealand brought him all accolades: the Player of the Series for that match and all but ensured that he should be counted amongst the top bowlers in international cricket.
The rankings update is more significant for India as their win of the Bangladesh series has taken them further forward in the World Test Championship points table. Such a victory will see them reach another ICC World Test Championship final for the third year running in a row, consolidating their position in the Test playing arena. Some of the prominent India test players, including Bumrah and Ashwin have ensured that such trends of performance continue in the coming years as well.
R Ashwin Dethroned As Top Ranked ICC Test Bowler
India pacer Jasprit Bumrah has risen to the top of the ICC Test Rankings for the second time after having been recently displaced. Bumrah has risen to the esteemed position courtesy of his terrific performance in India’s seven-wicket win over Bangladesh in Kanpur. Bumrah has now topped the table for the second time after finally surpassing his teammate Ravichandran Ashwin. It was a good day in the office for Bumrah who along with three wickets at both ends took six overall, three in each innings to emphasize his significance to India win.
Ashwin too had a memorable day with five wickets in the same match and he is just one point behind Bumrah in the rankings taking him to 869 points. The reason such a competition between the two bowlers comes about is because of their sheer performance and influence for the game thereby showing off India bowling strength.
On the other side Bangladesh side also has much to be happy about. Mehidy Hasan has risen four places to 18th position among Test bowlers. while Shakib Al Hasan has climbed five to take the 28th place, and these are reflections of Bangladesh bowling unit steady improvements and gain on the international arena.
In fact this week rankings update belongs to India predominantly and particularly after the clean sweep over Bangladesh. The win puts India in an excellent position in the World Test Championship standings well and good to feature next year against the team from the other region to share the final spot of the ICC World Test Championship. The team gains at Test cricket forge their status as one of the world leading teams in the format.
Young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal also cut a dash in the rain-marred Test against Bangladesh. Chosen the Man of the Match for his important contributions, scoring 72 and 51 runs in both innings his efforts lifted him into a career-best rating-for the first time-to three spots above third in the Test batting rankings. That makes Jaiswal come right after England Joe Root and New Zealand Kane Williamson, so he is a player to watch in the future.
More important is the rise of Jaiswal which heralds the arrival of a new wave of batsmen into Indian cricket and what he showed in these matches augurs well for his career. But it was not only Jaiswal who had a great comeback. Virat Kohli, who has struggled in this series also rose six places to reach sixth after scores of 47 and an unbeaten 29 against Bangladesh With his return to form Kohli would certainly become a thorn in the flesh of rival camps as India continues to navigate international competitions.
Other players also experienced uplifting shifts in their rankings. Sri Lankan batsman Kamindu Mendis moved five positions to the 11th spot as he reached a career-high rating after scoring another century in the second test against New Zealand. He has represented consecutive good performances. which make him a welcome boost for the nation that intends to rebuild the team dynamics of Sri Lanka.