‘That spell in Melbourne is the best I’ve seen across decades’: Gambhir makes massive Ashwin vs Kapil Dev statement

Former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir made a massive statement on the comparison between Ravichandran Ashwin and cricket legend Kapil Dev after the veteran Indian bowler surpassed the later during the Mohali Test against Sri Lanka on Sunday to enter the elite list of top-10 wicket-takers in Test cricket.

Ashwin on Sunday pipped Kapil to become the second-highest wicket-taker in Tests for India and ninth overall.

Ashwin picked six wickets against Sri Lanka in Mohali in India’s emphatic win in the series opener by an innings and 222 runs. En route to his bowling figures, Ashwin added another feather to his cap.

Speaking to Star Sports after India’s unassailable 1-0 lead in the two-match series, Gambhir admitted that Ashwin has had as much impact as a player as that of the legendary all-rounder. He then recalled his Melbourne spell against Australia in the 2020/21 series, hailing it as the best spell he has ever witnessed by an all-rounder.

“Probably not second, but at par with Kapil Dev. Because the impact that Ashwin has had, remember he has five Test hundreds. I don’t want to go with stats. They can be very very misleading. Ashwin’s spell in Melbourne and that is the best spell I’ve ever seen in my entire career by an off-spinner across decades. On the first day, the way he dismissed Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne and Matthew Wade, I don’t think any off-spinner has ever managed to generate that kind of impact in Australian conditions with the Kookaburra ball. Ask any finger spinner – they all hate playing with the Kookaburra ball. But Ashwin’s impact is as close as Kapil Dev,” he said.

Kapil’s 434 wickets had come from 131 matches while Ashwin pipped the feat in only his 85th appearance for India. He now only stands behind the legendary Anil Kumble, who tops the chart with 619 scalps, which he pulled off in 132 matches.

“28 years ago, I was cheering the great @therealkapildev on to get his world record tally of wickets. I never had the slightest of ideas that I would become an off spinner, play for my country and even manage to go past the great mans tally of wickets. I am delighted and very grateful to what this game has given me so far,” Ashwin wrote on his Instagram page after India’s win.