Australia national cricket team players, including Travis Head, Steve Smith, Nathan Lyon, Usman Khawaja and others, have named the Indian national cricket team's best player between Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. The non-rotating Prime Minister received the majority of votes.
Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja were two of the best players produced by the Indian national cricket team. They have been the backbone of the team in the game's longest format over the past decade, and their contribution to the game has been enormous.
Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have been the main reasons behind the Indian national cricket team's dominance in Tests. The kind of impact they had on the team was tremendous, and that's not just limited to the bowling, they were amazing with the bat as well.
Both Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja are unique in their skill set. While the off-spinner is known for his versatility and tactical brilliance along with his ability to adapt to conditions, the left-arm spinner's accuracy and all-round abilities make him different.
Maybe for me, Ashwin – Travis Head
There was often debate about who was the better of the duo. The debate was settled by the Australian players before the third Test between the two teams. For Travis Head, it's Ravichandran Ashwin because, according to him, he's the toughest one to face.
“Maybe for me, Ashwin, someone who has a few extra tricks and is a lot taller and a lot faster. Yeah, I think he's probably the hardest.” Travis Head said in a video published by Cricket Australia.
I don't think Jadeja got me out here – Steve Smith picks Ravichandran Ashwin as best spinner
Steve Smith also picked Ravichandran Ashwin ahead of Ravindra Jadeja, highlighting that the off-spinner has eliminated him even in Australian conditions. While talking about the skills of the spinner, he added:
“Ashwin has brought me here many times. I don't think it was Jadeja who brought me here, but I think Ashwin, in these conditions, has great skills. He changes the way he bowls from one surface to another; he bowls what is needed.
“He goes over the top of the ball when he needs to. He can come under the ball and read the stroke well, so yes, I would pick Ashwin.”
Josh Hazlewood also picked Ashwin, saying: “I think it would be Ashwin. I hate right-handed games. Being left-handed, I'm not good at facing much, but my right arm is annoying. But Ashwin is pretty shifty, as his record suggests.”
I always find Ashwin to be a good challenge and I think that's why he has been so successful – Usman Khawaja
Usman Khawaja rated Ravindra Jadeja's skills highly but claimed that Ravichandran Ashwin is the more cautious one. He stressed how the off-spinner reads the batsmen's thoughts and added that facing him is a challenge. He added:
“Jadeja has a very good skill set. He's like a metronome. He goes hard, then hits, again and again. You see, Ashwin is the most reserved. He's the one who thinks out there. Every time I play Ashwin, he tries to think about what I'm doing.” I'm trying to think of what he's trying to do.
“I can see that and you can see when bowlers are trying to figure out a way to get you out if they're setting you up. And he's always been that kind of guy. So I always find Ashwin giving him a good challenge and I think that's why he's been successful for so long.”
Nathan Lyon and Alex Carey also picked Ravichandran Ashwin over Ravindra Jadeja.
“I think Ashwin finds ways, is very competitive and gets into the competition,” Alex Carey said.
“Ashwin obviously has that bounce and Jadeja has the consistency and pace. So against me, that's probably all you need,” Nathan Lyon said.
