"No. 1 match winner for India": Saba Karim's massive praise for Ravi Ashwin

Former India selector Saba Karim lavished praise on all-rounder Ravi Ashwin.

Saba Karim, the former wicket-keeper and selector of the Indian cricket team, firmly believes that Ravi Ashwin holds the distinction of being India's most significant match-winner, especially in Test cricket. Ashwin's exceptional display in the 2021-23 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, where he impressively took 61 wickets in only 13 matches, has only reinforced this viewpoint.

During a recent conversation, Karim stressed that Ashwin's extraordinary track record over the years has placed him ahead of even legendary bowlers like Anil Kumble. His impact on the game has been substantial, making him a vital player in securing victories for the Indian cricket team. With his consistent and remarkable performances, Ashwin has unquestionably earned the esteemed title of being India's top match-winner in the eyes of the former selector.

"Let's not have any whatabouts about it. He is arguably the No. 1 match-winner for India," Saba Karim told Jio Cinema.

"I hope that in this World Test Championship cycle, he gets to play in the SENA countries even when India goes in with a solitary spinner. I think that's the biggest call that the Indian team management has to take," he added.

India's Quest for another World Test Championship Final

The 2023-25 cricket cycle for India begins with a Test series against West Indies. Saba Karim expressed his opinion that for the Indian cricket team to make it to the final of the competition, they will heavily rely on Ravi Ashwin performing at his best level once again. In other words, Ashwin needs to be in "prime form" to play a crucial role in the team's success and help them reach the final stage of the tournament.

"There is a constant evolvement of Ravi Ashwin, we have seen that in the past few years. For him to understand the shifting paradigm of international cricket and understand how to become a better bowler and how to get rid of good batters of spin bowling, we have seen that over the past few years.”

"For India to remain in contention to qualify once again for the World Test Championship final, you need someone like Ravi Ashwin to be in prime form," he concluded.