Dinesh Karthik said that Ravichandran Ashwin and Kapil Dev must “should be spoken of in the same breath”. His comments came as the former pipped legendary spinner Harbhajan Singh to become India’s third-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket. Ashwin also scored 38 and 32 runs in both innings of the first Test vs New Zealand in Kanpur.  

Ashwin dismissed New Zealand opener Tom Latham to notch his 418th Test scalp to surpass Harbhajan Singh. Only legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev (434) and spin great Anil Kumble (619) have more wickets than him in the format. 

“Obviously, I don’t think I am in a place to judge both of them, but I must admit that they should be spoken of in the same breath when it comes to Indian cricket because both of them have been match-winners, have been exemplary, and have been definitely the two best all-rounders to have come out of this soil for a long, long time,” Karthik said during a discussion with Simon Doull on Cricbuzz.

Also read: Wasim Jaffer names opener pick if India drop Mayank for 2nd Test vs New Zealand

Ravi Ashwin has five Test centuries and 11 half-centuries against his name in 81 matches. Karthik believes his numbers are good enough to back his claim of being a top-all-rounder. 

“You have to put him there (among India’s best all-rounders) with the number of Man of the Series he has won, the accolades he has got obviously. Getting 417 wickets in 80 Tests is an unbelievable record to have and the fact that he’s contributed and scored five hundreds, much more than a lot of the batters who play for a longer period of time in Test matches. There are people who have played 30-35 Tests, and still haven’t managed five hundreds,” he added.

Among active Test cricketers, Ashwin is the third highest wicket taker after English pacers Stuart Broad (524) and James Anderson (632).

Also read: With Virat Kohli back in 2nd Test, India faces tricky whom to replace question

Ashwin made his Test debut in November 2011 against the West Indies in Delhi. His wickets have come at a strike rate of 52.4 and average of 24.56.

Apart from his exploits with the ball, Ashwin is also known for his capability with the bat, scoring 2685 runs at an average of 27.68 with five centuries to his name.

The man from Chennai has also taken 150 wickets in 111 ODIs and is the third highest wicket taker for India in T20Is with 61 scalps from 51 matches.