Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023: India's Predicted Playing XI

8. Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin has been a giant of a player in world cricket. Test cricket has been Ashwin’s cup of tea where he has bamboozled batters with his variations and bagged an insane tally of 442 wickets at an average of 24.13. Also, the 36-year-old has been a match-winner with the bat and scored 3043 runs at an average of 27.41 in those outings.

Ashwin displayed his all-round prowess in the Test series against Bangladesh. The veteran spinner picked up seven wickets in two matches and scored 112 runs at an average of 56.00. This includes a crunch knock of 42* runs off 62 balls in the second Test to help the Men in Blue get over the line.

Ashwin has been India’s go-to man with the ball in the subcontinent conditions when in need of wickets and the ace off-spinner has delivered the goods time and time again. Further, his credentials with the bat increase the batting depth of the side. The ace all-rounder would be key to India’s chances in the forthcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy.