India's highest wicket-taker in Tests, Anil Kumble feels that it isn't right that Ashwin's place in team India is 'a point of discussion' ahead of the start of a Test series.
"You don’t want your premier spinner to be discussed before a Test series or a Test match, thinking about whether he’ll make it to the team," Kumble was quoted as saying.
"I think it’s sad but he’s showed his class. He’s the fastest to 350 Test wickets, it’s something amazing. You know, I think Ashwin, not just as a bowler but as an all-rounder, is an asset to the team. Him and Ravindra Jadeja will give you enough armoury with the spin and can also give you solid batting performances consistently, and they’ve done that in the lower-middle order for India.”
One of the best spinner's in the world, Ashwin made a dream comeback in team India after almost 10 months. In first Test, the veteran offie became joint-fastest to 350 Test wickets with Sri Lanka's Muralitharan.
Kumble also said that as far as the spin-bowling composition is concerned, India, at present, do not need to look beyond Ashwin and Jadeja in Test cricket.
"So, I don’t see a reason why anyone needs to go beyond these two spinners unless there’s something else that you want to look for, or if one of them is not fully fit. If you’re considering a third spinner, then yes, Kuldeep is of course a genuine spinner, and you’d want a wrist spinner to be in your team. But having said that, Ashwin is your premier spinner and I’m certainly happy with what he’s done because you can’t stop people from discussing. But, now hopefully he would have shut them up. He’s a class act," he added.