Ravi Shastri, former coach of the Indian cricket team, has hailed the current crop of Indian spinners and has named Ravichandran Ashwin as someone who belongs in India's best XI of all-time. Shastri is of the opinion that Ashwin's record in Indian conditions is remarkable and he would be a favorite to get into the all-time XI squad. Ashwin has claimed 463 Test wickets in his 12-year international career and is widely regarded as one of the best spinners in the world.
"In Indian conditions, he's something else. I mean, you've seen some great spinners in the past. He's right up there. And the fact that he can get you runs at crucial stages makes all the difference," Shastri said in the episode of The ICC Review.
Shastri also praised Ravindra Jadeja, saying that the left-arm all-rounder is on track to stake a similar claim to a place in India's all-time XI. Jadeja has been in fine form with both bat and ball in recent times and was brilliant in the ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy, bagging a fifer and scoring a gritty half-century in Nagpur followed by the best bowling figure of his career (7/42) in the second innings of the Delhi Test against Australia.
"He (Jadeja) will start to get the credit (he deserves) now. There's no question about it. The last year, year-and-a-half, he's been simply outstanding because he's realized his potential. He gives you nothing and it's a nightmare (for opposition batters). Especially if you're not in good form, and you are in the opposition as a batsman, you'll have nightmares," Shastri said.
Shastri went on to say that Jadeja becomes even more dangerous than Ashwin when the conditions match his skillset. "If it's a track where the ball is up and down, he can be even more dangerous than Ashwin. Ashwin anyway has the guy (with his) skill. But here, this guy (Jadeja) can have you on edge because one ball will skip through, one ball will turn, and he gives you nothing. His accuracy is so good that there are hardly any loose balls on offer," he said.
Overall, Shastri's comments highlight the depth of talent in India's spin bowling department, and it will be interesting to see how Ashwin and Jadeja perform in the upcoming matches.