India’s premier spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was named player of the series for his performance in the concluded two-match Test series between India and New Zealand. After the drawn Kanpur Test, India dominated the tourists in the second Test in Mumbai. They won the match by 372 runs.

The highlight of the Test was Ajaz Patel‘s history-making 10 wickets in an innings performance. He became only the third bowler in the history of Test cricket to achieve that feat after own very own Anil Kumble and England’s Jim Laker.

Talking about the Test, Ashwin said: “I think I’ve got 10 (Player of the Series awards now). I enjoyed Wankhede honestly, and every day there was something new, and I could challenge both edges.”

“It was a wonderful performance by Ajaz. It doesn’t spin all the time in Wankhede, and he used the seam and put the ball in the right places, and there was a bit of destiny involved in his 10-for too,” Ashwin said.

It was Jayant Yadav who ran through the New Zealand middle-order to hand India a victory before the drinks break. He also registered the first five-wicket haul of his career.

“Jayant and I have trained together, he flew to Chennai from Haryana in 2014 to pick my mind, so we have a good relation. Axar and I have played since Kings XI,” Ashwin said on Jayant.

Now, India will shift its focus to the tour of South Africa and Ashwin is positive. “I would like to go to South Africa and win a series there, we haven’t done that before, and hopefully, we can do it this time,” the right-arm bowler said.

India captain Virat Kohli lauded India’s clinical performance. “To come back with a win again, it’s a great feeling and a clinical performance. You want individuals to step up. The first Test was good, and it was a clinical performance here. We discussed the performance and the opposition played out a good draw.”