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In a recent interview, Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin shared his thoughts on who he believes to be the most valuable cricketer in Team India. Ashwin, a stalwart of the Indian bowling attack known for his skillful spin, has played a crucial role in India’s dominance, particularly in Test cricket. With 516 Test wickets to his name—the second-highest by an Indian bowler behind Anil Kumble—Ashwin’s opinion holds considerable weight in the cricketing world.
Ravichandran Ashwin names the most valuable Indian cricketer
During a conversation with Vimal Kumar on his YouTube channel, Ashwin opened up about the evolving dynamics of Indian cricket, particularly with the rise of a new generation of bowlers.
Ashwin said that although India has long been known as a batting-dominated nation, Ashwin was enthusiastic about recognizing the importance of bowlers in today’s game. Without directly naming the player, Ashwin expressed his admiration for one of his teammates, lauding him as a generational talent.
“India has always been the country that is a batsman-dominated country, and it’s never going to change, but I am so glad and happy that we are celebrating Jasprit Bumrah. Jasprit Bumrah is a once-in-a-generation bowler. We should celebrate him even more,” said Ashwin.
The right-arm bowler also highlighted the deep respect for bowlers in Chennai, mentioning that during a recent event where Jasprit Bumrah was the chief guest, he received a “Rajni treatment,” a level of admiration typically reserved for iconic figures like actor Rajinikanth. Ashwin emphasized that Bumrah should be celebrated as a champion.
“We Chennai people appreciate bowlers a lot. He was here for an event as a chief guest 4-5 days ago. We gave him a Rajni treatment. We treat bowlers very nicely. He should be treated as a champion,” Ashwin added.
While Ashwin refrained from explicitly naming the player when directly asked about the most valuable Indian cricketer, his admiration for one teammate was unmistakable.
“I don’t want to name, but Jasprit Bumrah is the most valuable Indian cricketer right now,” the off-spinner concluded.
Also READ: Not Virat Kohli! Jasprit Bumrah names the fittest Indian cricketer
The upcoming series against Bangladesh
As Team India prepares for its highly anticipated series against Bangladesh, starting on September 19, 2024, the spotlight will undoubtedly be on two of India’s premier bowlers— Ashwin and Bumrah. Both veterans have been named in the Test squad and are expected to play pivotal roles in guiding India to success.
The tour consists of two Test matches, followed by three T20 Internationals, offering India a platform to fine-tune its strategies ahead of bigger tournaments. While the shorter T20 format will allow the younger players to showcase their skills, the Test series will be an opportunity for Ashwin and Bumrah to further solidify their legacy in Indian cricket.
