Ashwin is a very keen thinker of cricket

Ashwin is a very keen thinker of cricket

As Ravichandran Ashwin spun the Kiwis to their doom to set up a victory for India in its historic 500th Test, the question inevitably popped up: Is he the most valuable player (MVP) in Test cricket at the moment?

His numbers are already staggering, and they are only getting better. On Sunday , he became the second fastest to 200 Test wickets, reaching the landmark in 37 Tests. At home, his figures are deadly -136 wickets in 20 Tests at 21.04.The good thing is, Ashwin has been improving his record on foreign soil ­ 67 scalps in 17 tests at 33 apiece is decent considering how finger spinners usually struggle away from the subcontinent. Add to that his batting, which he has been ramping up lately -he is the top-ranked Test allrounder in the world -and you have a match-winning package.

Test captain Virat Kohli put things in perspective when responding to a query by TOI.“It's priceless to have a player like Ashwin in your Test team, who gives you balance with both bat and ball. I hope he keeps nurturing his skills so that we can keep dominating and winning Test matches in the future,“ he said.

Does he see Ashwin as the top impact player in the world right now? “He has been out standing for the team. If you see all the top impact players in the world, he comes in the top three or four easily. I believe it's bowlers who win you Test matches and he has been bowling wonderfully well in the last couple of years.“ Ashwin was nursing a corn in the middle finger of his bowl ing hand but still bowled 66 overs in Kanpur, every over a stern test for the Kiwi batsmen. He produced the ball of the match to get rid of Kane Williamson in the first innings. When his finger began hurting, Ashwin resorted to clever use of the carrom ball to snuff out the Kiwi challenge on Monday .

Ashwin has the skills, and he has the brains to make the best use of those skills. And then he has the guts to go in with the belief that he is the master of game. As Kohli said, “He works very hard on his game and he is a very keen thinker of cricket. He understands the game really well. He is very intelligent, which shows in his batting too.“

Since Ashwin's debut in Novem ber 2011, India have had a fabulous run at home, winning 15 of the 20 Tests they have played. Away from home, they have won four and lost seven out of 17. Ashwin's contribution in the wins, especially at home, has been critical.

Ashwin has lately been hobnobbing with Anil Kumble, India's greatest matchwinner in Test cricket, who is also Team India coach. It's early days yet but if there is one player who has the potential to stand beside Kumble on this pedestal, it's Ashwin.

(TOI)