'I have a few problems with Ashwin' - Sanjay Manjrekar doesn't consider Ravi Ashwin as an all-time great

Veteran Indian bowler Ravichandran Ashwin is regarded as one of the finest spinners going around, and his record is nothing but sensational. Although the 34-year-old hasn’t played ODIs and T20Is since 2017, he still has been a mainstay of India’s Test line-up. In fact, he’s the second-fastest bowler ever to claim 400 Test wickets, achieving the feat in 77 games. However, these numbers aren’t enough for Ashwin to get the ‘all-time great’ title from Sanjay Manjrekar.

Cricketer-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar, who’s always in the news for his sensational and controversial statements, admitted Ashwin has delivered in the spin-friendly Indian conditions. However, the former batsman also opined that the off-spinner hasn’t been that lethal in overseas Tests. Manjrekar even claimed that Jadeja has been at par with Ashwin during the Tests in India. Highlighting these facts, the 55-year-old didn’t approve of Ashwin as an all-time great.

Ravi Ashwin’s record in SENA countries hasn’t been great: Sanjay Manjrekar

“When people start talking about him as being one of the all-time greats of the game then I have a few problems. One basic problem I have with Ashwin is that when you look at SENA countries, Ashwin doesn’t have a single five-wicket haul there,” Manjrekar said in a conversation with ESPNcricinfo.

“And the other thing when you talk about him running through sides on Indian pitches that are suited to his kind of bowling is that in the last four years, Jadeja has matched him with wicket-taking abilities. Then, interestingly, in the last series against England, Axar Patel got more wickets than Ashwin on similar pitches. So that is my problem with accepting Ashwin as a real all-time great”, he added.

So far, Ashwin has scalped 123 wickets in 31 overseas Test matches. Although these numbers are impressive, they aren’t anywhere near the off-spinner’s record at home. Nevertheless, the 34-year-old will like to prove Manjrekar and his other critics wrong during his stay in England. Team India is currently gearing up for the much-awaited ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand, which gets underway on June 18 at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton.

After the summit clash, Virat Kohli’s men will meet hosts England in a five-match Test series. Ashwin is certain to be a part of India’s first-choice playing XI, and the offie would be determined to improve his overseas record in the upcoming assignments.