Top 5 greatest bowling spells of Ravichandran Ashwin in Test cricket

1. 7/59 vs New Zealand, Indore, 2016

Ashwin absolutely bamboozled the Kiwi batting order in both the first and second innings. After a sensational batting display from India which saw them post a humongous total of 557 in their first innings, Ashwin would show his magic and take an impressive 6-wicket haul to restrict New Zealand to 299. India would then declare on 216/3 to set up a massive target of 475 for the Kiwis. Ashwin would once again assert his dominance and take an incredible 7-wicket haul as the hosts bowled out the visitors for only 153 and won the match by 321 runs.

2. 7/66 vs South Africa, Nagpur, 2015

Another match where Ashwin was totally on top against the opposing batting order. After India got bowled out for only 215 runs in the first innings, the duo of Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja would shatter the Proteas, picking up 9 wickets between them with the former taking 5 and the latter picking up 4. South Africa would get bowled out for only 79 runs. In reply, the Men in Blue would also fail to score big and would get bundled out for 173. However, the target of 310 would prove to be too much for the visitors and Ashwin’s magnificent 7-wicket haul would see them get bowled out for 185 and lose the match by 124 runs.

3. 7/71 vs West Indies, Roseau, 2023

The West Indian batting order had no answer to Ashwin’s quality spin bowling throughout the match. In the first innings, the Windies would get bowled out for only 150 runs and Ashwin’s impressive figures of 5/60 played a big part in that. In reply, centuries from both Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal would power the Men in Blue to a huge total of 421/5 before they decided to declare. Then, a sensational 7-wicket haul from Ashwin would massively help India in bowling out West Indies for only 130 and win the match by an innings and 141 runs.

4. 7/83 vs West Indies, Antigua, 2016

In this match, Ashwin not only starred with the ball but also gave a massive contribution to India’s first inning total with the bat. Ashwin would play a slow but steady knock and form valiant stands as well to score a tremendous century. He would lose his wicket on 113 as India declared on 566/8. In reply, their bowlers would also do a fantastic job and bundle out the hosts for 243 runs and enforce a follow-on. Ashwin’s magnificent 7-wicket haul would prove to be crucial for India and they would bowl out the Windies for 231, winning the match by an innings and 92 runs.

5. 7/103 vs Australia, Chennai, 2013

Ashwin’s bowling spell would prove to be crucial for India in the first innings as he would completely shatter the Australian top-order. The first 6 wickets of the match would be taken by the spinner as no Australian batter except Michael Clarke had any answer to his fantastic deliveries. Ashwin would complete his 7-wicket haul with Nathan Lyon’s wicket. In reply, India would post a humongous total of 572 before Ashwin would take another 5-wicket haul in the second innings which helped the hosts in bundling out the visitors for 241.India would easily chase the 50-run target and win the match by 8 wickets.

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