India Test skipper Virat Kohli has veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin can play the role of spin all-rounder for the team in any conditions.
South Africa and India will lock horns in the third and final Test, beginning Tuesday in Cape Town.
“If you look at his [Ashwin] batting contributions in the last Test and the way he bowled in the second innings – 19 runs in 10 overs and picking up a wicket when he could’ve easily had 2 or 3 – I think that’s an outstanding contribution to the team,” said Kohli on Monday ahead of the second Test.
“Ash knows that his game has come forward leaps and bounds, especially bowling overseas. He understands that himself from Australia onwards.”
“He’s in a very comfortable space where he’s willing to contribute for the team and he’s doing so in the right intention and the right way,” he added.
Virat Kohli had also confirmed that he’s fit for third Test but fast bowler Mohammed Siraj is unfit for the decisive match in Cape Town.
The three-match Test series between South Africa stands level at 1-1.
India Squad: Virat Kohli (c), KL Rahul, Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, Priyank Panchal, Hanuma Vihari, Shreyas Iyer, Mayank Agarwal, Rishabh Pant, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav.
