Ashwin’s legacy as thinking cricketer and match-winner will straddle several generations

R Ashwin, one of contemporary Test cricket’s thinkers has bid adieu to the game. As the India off-spinner walks into the sunset in the middle of an intense series in Australia, he has caused his fans and critics to scratch their heads in gratitude and consternation respectively. It is in keeping with the diversity of emotions that he has evoked with his indomitable approach.

He won so many cerebral battles with gifted batters, working his way around their defence and attack as well. Unlike his illustrious predecessors who could afford to flight the cricket ball, Ashwin was challenged by his own height and the quality of the modern bats. Yet, he found his ways to keep them guessing and played on their impatience to force them to make errors.

India has been blessed in being home to a number of top-notch off-spin bowlers, each answering the needs of his team and the circumstances by bringing his own skillsets to the table. From Ghulam Ahmed to Erapalli Prasanna, from S Venkataraghavan to Shivlal Yadav, from Harbhajan Singh to R Ashwin. 

Many years ago, the legendary Anil Kumble was among those who saw himself in Ashwin.  “I see Ashwin and see myself when he's bowling, batting. He's a better batsman than me, that's for sure. But I can see that grit, the determination, I can see he wants to just do it for the team. I think he's a fantastic cricketer for India,” Kumble said, speaking of Ashwin.

In the years since then, Ashwin emerged as a legend in his own right, not just because he has finished his career as the second highest wicket-taker for India in Tests with 537 victims behind Anil Kumble’s 619 or because he has the best strike rate in overseas Tests for an Indian spin bowler (62.4 balls per wicket against ace leg spinner BS Chandrasekhar’s 67.7). 

He is a legend for having stayed relevant to the Indian attack at a time when India started favouring pace bowlers to claim 20 wickets in Test matches, even in home games. He is a legend for being the master of his craft, now chiseling it, now fine-tuning it, but never letting a batter know if he was battling any doubts when he had a cricket ball in his hand. 

Those who speak of his overseas contributions in uncharitable tones overlook the fact that he is one of only 11 Indian bowlers who bagged more than 100 wickets in Tests overseas – and it is not as if he has played countless Tests to get the 154 wickets. There have been times when he created pressure and has been detrimental in his team-mates picking up some scalps. 

He has played multiple roles in his career. Over the years, he has been an understudy, a second string, a lead bowler and a leader of the attack, a dependable bat, a leader within the team and a senior statesman. To his credit, he lived each of his positions willingly and with grace, dignity, elan and purpose. Indeed, he has earned his place as a legend, always raising his hand.

It would be tempting to brand him a south Indian with the aggressive, unyielding attitude that pervades the nation’s northern part but that would be typecasting cricketers from India’s various regions. Instead, we must see him as an integral part of modern teams that fought hard and conceded no quarter, a reflection of the fearless India that has been evolving this millennium.

It is a generation of cricketers, and athletes, which is out to do its best for the country. They are conscious of the demands to win with a genteel approach, but they would rather win, even if it makes them look not very pretty. That is probably a reason why not everyone has applauded Ashwin with the joy they should.

There will always be doubts around why he quit the game in the middle of an important series. Many of those questions will never be answered and some will probably never even be asked. But there can be no two ways about his having served Indian cricket with great distinction, enjoying his craft and challenging the opposition. 

It is a rare skill that cricketers have in sensing that their own sell-by-date is drawing to a close. And it is rarer still for players to have the moral courage in calling time on their careers. Many bank on hope that another fine show can stretch their shelf life in the international circuit rather than genuine belief that they remain relevant to the team’s plans. 

He leaves a legacy that will sparkle for years. It is not just a non-striker, attempting to gain a few inches by leaving the safety of his crease before the bowler has delivered the ball, who will be heaving a sigh of relief. There are many batters around the world and teams that will be relieved that they will no longer have to find ways to counter his guile.

You can be sure that Ashwin’s legacy as a thinking cricketer and match-winner will straddle several generations since the growing influence and preference of T20 cricket will make it hard for anyone wishing to walk in his footsteps. You can also be sure that he will remain rooted in cricket, continuing to contribute to the game either as a commentator or coach.