“They don’t let batters breathe”: Anil Kumble applauds the ‘incredible’ partnership of Ashwin-Jadeja in Test cricket

The formidable spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja has received high praise from legendary India spinner Anil Kumble for their exceptional performance, marking a historic milestone in the ongoing Test series against England. Kumble lauded the pair as “incredible” as they reached the remarkable feat of completing 500 wickets together in Test cricket during India’s clash with England at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.

Ashwin and Jadeja have showcased their vintage form in the ongoing series against England. India have lost only four games out of 49 when the lethal combination of the spin maestros is in action.

Their impressive record includes 35 victories, four losses, and 10 drawn matches. Speaking to Sports18 on Day 3 of the Test, Anil Kumble expressed his admiration for the duo’s consistent brilliance.

Kumble’s praise for Ashwin and Jadeja

A former spinner who himself holds a legendary status in Indian cricket, Anil Kumble commended Ashwin and Jadeja for their ability to handle pressure and deliver match-winning performances consistently.

“The pressure on these two spinners, from their initial partnership in the first test to the 41st, remains constant. Navigating through these high-pressure situations and consistently delivering match-winning performances, whether it’s Ashwin, Jadeja, or both, is truly remarkable,” Kumble said.

Kumble pointed out that both R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have consistently recorded five-wicket hauls in Test matches.

“At times, both of them have secured five-wicket hauls. If one claims five wickets in the first innings, the other follows suit with five in the second. Maintaining this pattern for 40 games and ensuring your team emerges victorious in 30 of those instances is truly extraordinary,” he added.

Kumble further emphasized that the Ashwin-Jadeja combination exerts relentless pressure on opposition batters. It makes it challenging for them to find respite even for a single ball.

“These two are exceptional. It’s challenging for a batter to catch a breath, even for a single ball, as they consistently apply pressure. The beauty of spin bowling and the advantageous Indian conditions is that these two can sustain their attack. They keep coming at you, and that’s the remarkable quality of these two bowlers,” he concluded.