Ashwin can bowl out best XI batsmen in a session: Kapil Dev

Former Indian all-rounder Kapil Dev came out with bold statements ahead of the first Test between India and England. The two sides are scheduled to play 5 Tests this winter starting on November 9. Former Indian players Kapil Dev and VVS Laxman believe it will be very tough for England this season. England has managed to win the last 3 Test series against India. But if it were to go by the words of these stalwarts, things will change this time around.

In a conversation with India Today, the two veterans have backed India’s chances of dominating the visitors this season. Kapil Dev believes it will be Ravichandran Ashwin who will torment the opposition. Citing the way English batsmen struggled against spinners, Kapil Dev believes Ashwin will be a tough cookie to deal with.

“Not just the amount of wickets he has been picking, but I would judge him the way the ball is coming out of his hand. If their struggle against Bangladesh spinners is anything to go by, this will be a very long winter for the English batsmen against Ashwin and Co,” Kapil Dev said.

He further pointed that Ashwin’s current form is a threat to any opposition. He emerged as the leading wicket-taker in the series against New Zealand recently. Kapil Dev went on to say that Ashwin is capable of bowling out an entire opposition of best batsmen in a single session. “The way he is bowling, Ashwin can actually bowl out the best XI batsmen in the world in a session, so England aren’t going to find it easy to combat him,” Kapil said.

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He further added that Ravindra Jadeja and Amit Mishra won’t be easy pickings either. “And you know what Ravindra Jadeja can do on responsive pitches, and how Amit Mishra is such a big threat. I feel this English team won’t find it easy if the pitches start helping spinners,” added the World Cup winning captain.

VVS Laxman was also in favor of team India’s chances in the series. He cited that England do not have the experience in the spin department that they had when England last toured India. In addition to that, James Anderson and his injury woes will also be bothering the visitors.

“Even though England hold the upper hand as far as the last three India-England Test series are concerned, I think their recent struggle and defeat in Bangladesh is of more significance. The English batting was exposed against spinners and they won’t find conditions in India to their taste. And if you compare their team that won in India in 2012, now they don’t have Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann in this team. And if Jimmy Anderson also misses out on a couple of Tests, then this bowling line up will add to the woes of their captain Alastair Cook,” quoted VVS Laxman.

However, he refrained from saying that India will whitewash England. He said that things would clear out after a couple of matches. “I won’t say 5-0 yet but the first couple of Tests will tell us. With slightly weaker spinners and with batsmen doubting their skill on turning pitches, it will be a very big surprise if England can win a game or two,” Laxman quoted.

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He further remarked that in his opinion, India should play 3 spinners against England. Instead of using part-timers, it will always be beneficial to go with specialist spinners. “I will play all three – Ashwin, Jadeja and Mishra plus two fast bowlers. In a five-match series, India wouldn’t want their spinners to get tired by bowling very long spells. In Indore when Ashwin was tired, Murali Vijay bowled for seven overs. Against good sides, this can take pressure off batsmen so India should at every possible time be at England’s throat,” conceded Laxman.