img source:https://www.hindustantimes.com/
WTC Final: Ravichandran Ashwin holds the key against New Zealand at Southampton
The World Test Championship final might present Virat Kohli and the Team India think tank with a few selection headaches. The biggest of them all could be the decision regarding spinners. Ravichandran Ashwin walks into playing XI because of his outstanding performance with ball and bat recently, and for the simple fact that he remains India's biggest match-winner in Test cricket. Yes, his numbers in SENA countries might put up a pale picture when compared to his numbers in India, but he is not the only bowler to have such a discrepancy. It does not take away from the fact that he is an extremely intelligent bowler, who knows how to out-think batsmen, irrespective of the surface he is bowling on. One of the biggest advantages Ashwin will have against New Zealand in this crucial encounter is the experience of having troubled most of the top batsmen and the presence of left-handers in the team. Ashwin's record against left-handed batsmen makes him a huge threat against this New Zealand team. If one considers the playing XI that New Zealand used in the first Test against England at Lord's recently, it could be seen that the team had as many as five left-handers.
