"When you had to make a comeback, your most senior player showed the way" - Parthiv Patel lauds R Ashwin's spell in IND vs NZ 2024 2nd Test
Former Indian cricketer Parthiv Patel has lauded Ravichandran Ashwin for initiating India's comeback in the second Test against New Zealand in Pune. He pointed out that the veteran off-spinner gave the hosts their first three breakthroughs when the pitch didn't have too much assistance for the bowlers.
Ashwin registered figures of 3/64 in 24 overs as India bowled New Zealand out for 259 in their first innings on Thursday, October 24. Rohit Sharma and Co. ended Day 1 at 16/1, having lost the skipper's wicket for a duck.
During a discussion on Colors Cineplex, Patel praised Ashwin for triggering India's comeback in the Pune Test after a defeat in Bengaluru.
"Whenever India has to make a comeback, you look towards a senior player to show you the path. Here also, when the Test match started and when you had to make a comeback, your most senior player showed the way. He (Ashwin) picked up the first three wickets and then the young player Washington Sundar took seven wickets," he said.
The former India wicketkeeper-batter added that the wily spinner relied on his skills rather than help from the surface to pick up his wickets.
"When he came to bowl at the start, there wasn't that much wear and tear on the pitch. There wasn't that much bounce and it wasn't turning that much. He is picking up his wickets relying on his skills," Patel added.
Ashwin dismissed Tom Latham and Will Young before lunch. He induced a knick from New Zealand's top-scorer Devon Conway (76 off 141) which was caught by Rishabh Pant in the second session to complete his three-wicket haul.
"When some other bowler attacks, even if he is a young spinner, as Washington Sundar was doing, he takes a back seat" - Parthiv Patel on R Ashwin
![Washington Sundar picked up seven wickets after R Ashwin's first three strikes. [P/C: BCCI]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/10/27fa7-17297800399716-1920.jpg?w=500)
In the same discussion, Parthiv Patel noted that R Ashwin was willing to play second fiddle to Washington Sundar when the latter was running through the New Zealand batting lineup. Sundar took seven wickets against the Kiwis on day 1 of the Test.
"He knows the lengths on which he would get wickets. When some other bowler attacks, even if he is a young spinner, as Washington Sundar was doing, he takes a back seat. He was bowling tightly. He has the quality and that is why you are seeing him in that big list," he said.
The cricketer-turned-commentator added that Ashwin is in illustrious company, overtaking Nathan Lyon to become the fourth-highest wicket-taking spinner in Tests.
"We have seen the list in which his name comes - Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne, Anil Kumble, Ravichandran Ashwin and Nathan Lyon. The two legendary spinners of this era, R Ashwin and Nathan Lyon, both are close to each other. They will keep moving up and down," Patel stated.
Ashwin (531) surpassed Lyon (530) when he dismissed Devon Conway. Muttiah Muralitharan (800), Shane Warne (708) and Anil Kumble (619) are the only spinners to have taken more Test wickets than the duo.