Dale Steyn reckons Ravichandran Ashwin will be India’s biggest trump card against England

Ravichandran Ashwin has had a fantastic 2021 so far, especially in the longest format of the sport. Ashwin was phenomenal against Australia during the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2020/21 where he constantly tormented Steve Smith.

He carried his magnificent form into the series against England as well at home. The spinner was unstoppable on Indian soil and he absolutely dismantled the opposition batting order. He registered his 400^th Test wicket and also scored a century and picked up a five-wicket haul in the same Test.

All eyes will be on Ravi Ashwin once again with India gearing up to face England in a five-match Test series. One of the greatest fast bowlers of all time Dale Steyn reckons that Ashwin will be India’s most vital aspect in the upcoming Test series that is set to commence the 2021-23 World Test Championship for the Men in Blue.

“Maybe it’s out-of-the-box thinking here from me, but I think we’re putting a lot of emphasis on the seamers when someone like R Ashwin might be the biggest key for India. As these five Test matches go on, I think spin will be the difference,” wrote Steyn in his column for ESPNcrincinfo.

Dale Steyn also went on to add that the Indian team management needs to be judicious about how they use and maintain the balance between the seamers and spinners. The powerhouses like England and Australia have struggled against Indian spinners quite often and Ashwin has been the primary wrecker-in-chief. Steyn thinks he will be the biggest trump card for Virat Kohli.

“Maybe it’s out-of-the-box thinking here from me, but I think we’re putting a lot of emphasis on the seamers when someone like R Ashwin might be the biggest key for India. As these five Test matches go on, I think spin will be the difference.

“Ashwin is the kind of bowler who bowls tons and tons of overs. Teams like England and Australia, who are so good at playing seamers and seamer-friendly conditions, don’t tend to play spin particularly well. So Ashwin might be the biggest trump card that India has going forward,” added Steyn in his column on ESPN Cricinfo.