India If there is one player who anyone would always want to be in their team, it's Ravichandran Ashwin. A tactical genius, and one of the finest bowlers in the world, he spins his web perfectly to dismantle the opposition. He knows the rules better than umpires, and uses it to his team's advantage. He has a habit of hitting headlines for all the right reasons. And he has hit the headlines again, by crossing his tally of wickets over 700.

It's a good number, but it sounds even better looking at the number of matches he has played to the number of wickets he has. In his 93rd test match, he already has 33 5-wicket hauls. The fastest to cross 250, 300 and 350 wickets in tests, Ashwin is one of the rare guys who has a close 'wickets-to-matches' ratio to Muralitharan. And he has more to add with his handy contribution with the bat. It's a dream for any all-rounder to hit a century, and get a 5 wicket haul in the same match, and Ashwin has done it on 3 occasions.

He is undoubtedly one of the greatest match-winners for India since his inclusion in the side. His innovations in bowling , including his action make him a mystery. His carrom ball baffles the batters, his spin turns the tide of the match, and batting infuriates the opposition. His clever response has helped team win thrillers. And his unwavering dedication has helped India win many, and save crucial test matches, like the 2021 Sydney test match.

He is deeply involved in every game he plays. Whether he is playing for India, Rajasthan Royals, Tamilnadu or Dindigul Dragons, his attitude remains the same. He becomes a different person when he is on the field. He wants to win the game in every possible legal way, without violating the rules. He stands for his players and does not shy away from giving it back to the opposition, verbally or with his game.

He reads the game like no one else does. His understanding of weakness and strengths of every batter is spot on. He traps the best batters in the world with his wit. At times , when wickets don't allow spin, it's his change of pace and angles which fetches him wickets. He creates newer ways to dismiss batters. For instance, Steve Smith is one of those batters who doesn't get dismissed in similar ways. He never gets out in the same fashion, as he learns from his previous mistakes. And yet, every time he faces Ashwin, the later has an upper hand on him. It's because of Ashwin's innovative ways that a batter of Smith's level is his bunny.

Apart from being an amazing cricketer, Ash is one of the most sensible analysts of the game. His comments on most of the sensitive topics of cricket are apt, and neutral. He speaks his mind, and his mind has that clarity of what is right and what is wrong, which makes him a great analyst. He appreciates our arch-rivals at times, and doesn't bother to criticize his own teammates if they fail to perform.

He always speaks in the favour of players who use laws to team's advantage. When no Indian cricketer dared to speak about Deepthi Sharma, Ashwin firmly defended her actions. In the recent Bairsrow-Carey saga as well, he was one of the first persons to support Carey. He does not believe in crying foul for opponents using the law to their advantage either. He doesn't create a selective outcry against it, infact he stands against it if anything of that sort happens.

Which is why some of the opposite teams hate him. They admire him as a bowler, but know how can be lethal not just with his bowling, but his clever use of rules. His presence in the playing eleven does affect them. It massively affected Australians in the historic 2020-21 Border Gavaskar Trophy, ask Tim Paine. And it could've been the case in the WTC final as well, however India missed the trick by not selecting the best bowler in the world in most important match.

No one would want to miss a bowler who has 95 clean bowled dismissals, highest fifers amongst active players and the guy having century and 5-wicket haul in tests thrice. But India did, and suffered the fate. At times India doesn't realise the importance of Ravichandran Ashwin, but in the situations like WTC final, it becomes evident of what India missed. Which is why he said back that he regretted being a bowler when he could've been a batter. But if he would've been a batter, the world would've missed the finest spin wizards of this generation.

And I'm really glad to have this spin master play for my country India. The value he brings to the Indian team is immense. Be it with the bowl, be it with the bat, or be it with his wit, he contributes to the team's success in every match. His perseverance is outstanding. His dominant bowling is pure class. And with his class, he outclasses legends, thereby becoming one . A tactical genius like no other, he is the biggest positive for India since he played in the Blues. And it's impossible to find his replacement, as there can only be one Ravichandran Ashwin . A boon for India and a legend of the game, this Ash is born to win.