Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, who began their partnership in 2012, have become India’s most crucial players, especially in home conditions. Since their pairing, India has lost only 3 out of 45 home Tests, thanks to their dual ability to shine with both bat and ball.
During a recent Test, the duo showcased their importance once again. India was in trouble on the first day, but Ashwin and Jadeja stabilized the innings with their batting. On the final day, they bowled in tandem to dismantle Bangladesh, securing a victory by 280 runs and extending India’s record for consecutive home series wins to 18. India last lost a home series in 2012, just as Ashwin and Jadeja were starting their dominant partnership.
Indian spinners have always been vital to home Test victories, but Ashwin and Jadeja’s success rate is unmatched. The two have played 45 Tests together, winning 34 (75%) and losing only 3. In comparison, legendary spinners Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, despite their individual brilliance, won 14 out of 34 home Tests together (41%), losing 6.
Not only have they excelled as spinners, but they’ve also become invaluable lower-middle-order batsmen. Since forming their partnership, Ashwin has taken 263 wickets, while Jadeja has claimed 218. With the bat, Jadeja has scored 1910 runs, second only to Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara among Indian players during this period, while Ashwin has 1141 runs, more than recognized top-order batsmen like KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan.
Ashwin and Jadeja’s all-around prowess mirrors legendary Australian all-rounders Ray Lindwall and Keith Miller, who dominated after World War II. While Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah often receive more attention, Ashwin and Jadeja have been the backbone of India’s dominance at home. Their consistency even led former coach Gautam Gambhir to downplay the need for a seam-bowling all-rounder, as their complementary skills with both bat and ball have proven indispensable.
As they age, Ashwin (38) and Jadeja (36) have developed a deep mutual admiration. Ashwin, who claimed his 37th five-wicket haul to match Shane Warne, admitted that his competition with Jadeja has turned into admiration, acknowledging that Jadeja inspires him.
In the recent match, Ashwin and Jadeja displayed their class once again. Despite a strong partnership between Bangladesh’s Najmul Hossain Shanto and Shakib Al Hasan, Ashwin and Jadeja broke the stand and quickly wrapped up the remaining wickets. Ashwin’s sharp bowling dismissed Shakib, while Jadeja’s relentless pressure claimed Liton Das and others. This performance reminded everyone why Ashwin and Jadeja remain crucial to India’s Test success, both as bowlers and batsmen.
Their contributions over the last 12 years have cemented their legacy as one of the greatest all-round partnerships in cricket, proving that they can spin magic with the ball and score valuable runs with the bat, making India an incredibly tough side to beat at home.
