Anil Kumble, one of India’s most successful cricketers and former head coach of the national team, knows what it takes to reach the top level and stay there. A fierce competitor in his time, Kumble has a keen eye for recognising greatness in others. According to him, Ravichandran Ashwin has been a match-winner throughout his career, consistently excelling with his professionalism and relentless pursuit of mastery. His admiration for Ashwin reflects this. To Kumble, Ashwin is not just a player but a force—someone who has made an indelible mark on Indian cricket.

Talking about Ashwin’s approach to the game, Kumble said, “Every time you watch him bowl, you can see he’s trying to outwit the batter. That hunger to improve is what stands out.” This hunger has been at the core of Ashwin’s career, spanning more than 14 years of international cricket. 

Kumble recalls seeing Ashwin’s brilliance up close for the first time during the 2011 IPL final when he bowled a match-winning spell for Chennai Super Kings. Even then, Ashwin showed signs of a bowler who thrived under pressure and sought ways to stay ahead of batters. Over the years, his evolution has been remarkable. Ashwin not only mastered the craft of off-spin but also became a “thinking bowler,” always looking for ways to adapt to changing conditions and batters’ approaches.

While acknowledging Ashwin’s success, Kumble voiced concerns about how the spinner wasn’t consistently picked for overseas tours. He felt that this was a missed opportunity for Indian cricket. 

“He’s picked wickets everywhere he’s played. To say he’s just a spinner for subcontinent conditions isn’t fair,” he explained. Kumble believes Ashwin’s skill set, combined with Ravindra Jadeja’s, could have been a lethal weapon in places like England, South Africa, and Australia.

Kumble also shed light on Ashwin’s batting potential, something not often highlighted enough. During India’s 2016 West Indies tour, when Kumble was the head coach, Ashwin batted at No. 6 and scored back-to-back centuries in Antigua and St. Lucia. “I always felt he could be a proper all-rounder. He had the technique to bat anywhere in the middle order,” Kumble remarked.

While comparisons are often made between Ashwin and Harbhajan Singh, Kumble refrains from pitting one against the other. “I don’t believe in saying one is better than the other. Harbhajan could get bounce and had the doosra. Ashwin is more stump-to-stump and focuses on LBWs. Both were incredible in their own way,” he said.

Kumble also appreciated Ashwin’s unique mindset. Unlike many, Ashwin is never afraid to stick to his methods. “It’s not easy to convince Ashwin of something. He’d listen, but he’d also counter with, ‘This is what I think I can do, and I’ll still get you wickets,’” Kumble shared.

Kumble also expressed disappointment at how Ashwin’s career was handled towards the end, noting the lack of a proper farewell for someone who had contributed so much. “Players who’ve done so much for so long deserve a proper farewell. It wasn’t right how he left,” he lamented, adding, “The benchmarks he’s set will be hard for anyone to match.”

For Anil Kumble, Ashwin stands as one of the finest players India has ever produced—a cricketer who, with his skill, determination, and grit, has delivered time and again for his team.