R Ashwin recalled to India's T20I squad: Key stats
Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has been recalled to the T20I squad for the five-match series in West Indies. Ashwin joins Kuldeep Yadav (subject to fitness), Ravi Bishnoi, Axar Patel, and Ravindra Jadeja in the spin department. The senior spinner last played a T20I in the home series against New Zealand last year (November). Here, we decode his stats and the records he can break.
Why does this story matter?
Ashwin has been the mainstay spinner for India in Tests. He went on to become India's most successful off-spinner. Ashwin was not considered for selection in limited-overs cricket after July 2017 (WI T20I series). He made his T20I comeback last year at T20 World Cup. Considering his recent exploits with the white ball, the selection committee has brought him back for the WI T20Is.
Ashwin has represented India in over 50 T20Is
Ashwin has represented India in 51 T20 Internationals so far. He has snapped up 61 wickets at a phenomenal average of 21.27. The tally includes two four-wicket hauls. His best bowling figures of 4/8 in the format came against Sri Lanka in February 2016. Ashwin has an impressive economy rate of 6.79 in T20I cricket. He has bowled a total of 191.0 overs.
Will Ashwin touch the 70-wicket mark?
At present, Ashwin has the most number of wickets by an off-spinner in T20I cricket (61). Overall, he is behind Yuzvendra Chahal (79), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (70), and Jasprit Bumrah (69) in terms of T20I wickets. Ashwin has an opportunity to surpass Bumrah and touch the 70-wicket mark in the format. Notably, both Bumrah and Chahal have been rested for the five-match series in WI.
Ashwin can reclaim the top spot
Earlier this year, Chahal surpassed Ashwin to become India's leading wicket-taker in T20 cricket. The latter could now reclaim the top spot in the impending series. In a career spanning over a decade, Ashwin owns 276 T20 wickets at an average of 25.54. The tally includes four four-wicket hauls. Meanwhile, Chahal now has nine more wickets than the senior off-spinner.
A look at other notable numbers
Ashwin made his T20I comeback in 2021 after a period of five years. He missed as many as 65 T20Is between 2017 and 2021, the third-most by an Indian. In 2021, he took nine wickets from five T20Is at an incredible average of 11.66. Ashwin is set to become the first-ever off-spinner from India with 50 T20I wickets in winning cause (49).
