Top 5 innings played by Ravichandran Ashwin in Test matches

The Indian Cricket Team has always been on the search of a genuine all-rounder in all forms of the game, and such has been the paucity of such players that anyone who can hold the bat and then roll his arms over has been accorded this status. However, these players can never become match-winners, and thus they struggle to cement their place in the squad either with the bat or the ball.

In such a scenario, the growth and in many ways the evolution of Ravichandran Ashwin as a batsman has come as a whiff of fresh air for people concerned with Indian cricket. Ashwin the bowler has been making giant strides over the past couple of years, but it has been the remarkable rise of Ashwin the batsman which has warmed the hearts of the fans and the team management alike.

Under coach Anil Kumble and captain Virat Kohli, the Tamil Nadu player has been promoted to the number 6 position in the batting order, and the off-spinner has responded with some aplomb. His batting form has allowed the team to go in with 5 genuine bowlers, which is a massive comfort to have in Test matches.

Here in this list, we take at 5 of the very best innings played by Ravichandran Ashwin in Test matches.

#5 56 vs South Africa, Delhi 2015

The 2014-15 South Africa tour will always be remembered for the controversy around the pitches prepared. The batsmen on the both sides struggled to get going on the rank turners dished out throughout the series. The hosts took full advantage of the conditions as the spinners came to the party and wreaked havoc.

As a result of this, India went into the final match of the series after already taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the 3rd Test. However, the hosts were under pressure on the sluggish Kotla surface and were reduced to 198 runs for the loss of 7 wickets. Ajinkya Rahane was going strong, but he was not getting much support from the other end. But then things turned for the better when Ashwin joined Rahane in the centre and together the duo defied the Proteas bowling attack with some gusto.

They put on a crucial partnership of 98 runs for the 8th wicket and wrested the momentum away from South Africa. While Ajinkya Rahane stole the show with a brilliant 127, Ashwin too played his part with a defiant knock of 56 runs.

India went on to win the game late on the final day by 337 runs and thus sealed the 4-match series 3-0.