The Indian team recently registered a dominant 2-0 win in a two-match Test series against Bangladesh. There have been several heroic performances from almost every player of the Indian cricket team in both Test matches. However, one of the main stars in India’s series win was Ravichandran Ashwin. The 38-year-old won player of the series award for his brilliance with both bat and ball in the Test series versus Bangladesh. Notably, this was also his 11th player of the series award in this format, making him standing next to Sri Lanka’s great Muttiah Muralitharan in terms of most player of the series awards in Test cricket.
However, Ravichandran Ashwin could have easily surpassed Muttiah Muralitharan for most player of the series in Tests earlier this month, if there wasn’t any blunder during India’s tour to West Indies in 2023. India defeated the hosts by 1-0 in a two-match Test series where Ashwin was again among the top contenders to win player of the series. The off-spinner took 15 wickets in two matches, including 12 wickets in the first match itself. Apart from that, Ashwin also came up with a half-century in the second match. However, the player of the series award was never hander due to a blunder by the West Indies Cricket Board.
R. Ashwin denied player of the series award due to lack of sponsors: West Indies Cricket Board claims
According to the report by News18, the West Indies Cricket Board shifted the liability of handing over the player of the series award to an Indian agency. However, the agency claimed that it’s a responsibility of the cricket board to give the trophy, and the award should have been given even if it wasn’t presented during the presentation ceremony. If Ashwin had won the award that time, he would now have the most player of the series awards by any cricketer in the Test format.
Ravichandran Ashwin finished as joint highest wicket-taker in the recently ended series against Bangladesh, taking 11 scalps along with Jasprit Bumrah. However, Ashwin also shone with the bat with his brilliant hundred in the first Test in Chennai after India lost early wickets. The 38-year-old will now be seen representing India in the upcoming three-match Test series against New Zealand starting on October 16, followed by five Test against Australia down under.
