Trump Card Ashwin: Offie to remain a vital cog in your fantasy teams going ahead

EVEN BEFORE a single ball was bowled in the series; we had mentioned how premier offie Ravichandran Ashwin will have the biggest role to play with the ball against the Kiwis. The Tamil-Nadu spinner was at his very best in all three Tests and ended up picking 27 wickets for the series and rightfully earned the man of the series award too (fifth on the all-time list). 

We also predicted in our fantasy columns about how Ashwin is almost guaranteed to generate serious fantasy points throughout the series. Looking back, Ashwin gave 119 points with both bat and ball in the opening Test in Kanpur. Heading into the second Test at the Eden Gardens, Ashwin complained about a corn on his spinner finger, owing to which he didn’t bowl much.

Therefore, in comparison to the first Test, he could only manage 51 points. That said, in the third and final Test in Indore, the Ashwin once again hit back with a match-winning spell in the second innings and finished with 13 wickets for the match. In fantasy terms, he contributed 134 points. 

Historically, Ashwin has done extremely well in Indian conditions. In the last home series against South Africa, Ashwin tormented the Proteas with his variations and finished up with 31 wickets in four Tests. Further going back into the 2013 home season, the champion spinner scalped 12 wickets effortlessly against the clueless Windies.

Coming into the series, everybody knew Ashwin was India’s biggest strike bowler and he would be a tough customer to negotiate for the Kiwis. Right from ball one in Kanpur, Ashwin appeared to be getting into his groove and made life extremely tough for the visitors. His vicious turn to get rid of Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson for 75 at Kanpur was arguably the best ball of the series. 

After getting Williamson for the third time in the series, Ashwin expressed his confidence, 

"Once I get into a good rhythm, I can beat any batter in the world; that is where I stand right now.” 

Given his consistent performances in the recent-past, Ashwin has become the second fastest bowler to reach 200 wickets in Tests, and also became the second Indian bowler to take more wickets in a three-match series at home. As far as strike-rate goes, he is also ahead of the pack. At 49.4, he leads the game’s greatest Shane Warne, Muttiah Muralitharan and Graeme Swann. 

After his heroics in the Tests, Ashwin has been rested for the first three games of the ODI series against New Zealand. While the likes of Amit Mishra and Axar Patel will play the initial games, we think Ashwin will straightaway walk into the side in the fourth game. Similarly, in fantasy cricket too, you should pick him in your teams immediately after he makes himself available. 

Given the long Test season at home, Ashwin might be rested on a few occasions, but he will continue to remain a vital figure in the Indian team when the English visit for a five-match Test series. Besides slotting him in your teams, he is also a perfect candidate to play as your fantasy captain in Test matches.

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