‘Best in the world right now’ Ravichandran Ashwin and India out for exclamation point

Ravichandran Ashwin has ascended the global spinning order this Test series against South Africa, and will aim to lead India in a 3-0 result.

India's Ravichandran Ashwin celebrates after taking the wicket of South Africa's AB de Villiers during the third Test last week in Nagpur. Indranil Mukherjee / AFP / November 27, 2015

India's red-hot spinner Ravichandran Ashwin will look to pile on the agony for South Africa in the final Test in New Delhi starting Thursday on a pitch expected to cause more problems for the tourists.

The 29-year-old has risen to No 2 in the world rankings following his heroics in last week’s third Test in Nagpur when he recorded match figures of 12 for 98, giving India an unassailable 2-0 series lead.

Ashwin has taken 55 wickets since the start of the year, more than anyone else in Test cricket, and has been near unplayable on the rank turners that have bamboozled South Africa’s stellar batting line-up.

“He is a world class spinner, probably the best in the world right now,” India captain Virat Kohli said in the aftermath of Ashwin’s performance in Nagpur.

“He’s stepped up in a big way for us, even in Sri Lanka. He is one of the main reasons why we’ve been able to win back-to-back series.”

Both India’s victories in Nagpur and Mohali have been wrapped up inside three days, and South Africa were also bowled out cheaply in their only innings in the rain-affected second Test in Bangalore which was drawn.

The Proteas’ most reliable batsmen, Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers, have managed one half century between them in the series while no one has made a century.

The likes of Dean Elgar, Stiaan van Zyl and Faf du Plessis, who are all on their first tour of India, have fared little better.

Amla has admitted that it has been a struggle for the batsmen in conditions he says have been some of the most challenging he has ever faced.

“I think the wickets have played their part in making it very difficult for all the batters,” said the South African skipper.

While they remain the world’s No 1 Test team, the tourists have had to endure the disappointment of losing their first series abroad in nine years.

While they will be desperate to avoid a 3-0 scoreline, the Ferozeshah Kotla pitch is expected to pose similar challenges for South Africa who have struggled to produce a top-class spinner of their own.

“I would hope the one in Delhi is absolutely the same. I have no qualms about it,” the Indian team director Ravi Shastri told the Cricinfo website, saying it was up to batsmen to adjust their technique.

“Which rule tells me that a ball can’t turn on day one? Where does it tell me in the rule book it can only swing and seam?”

South Africa’s cause has not been helped by the absence of their pace spearhead Dale Steyn, the only bowler above Ashwin in the world rankings.

Steyn, nursing a groin strain, has bowled just 11 overs in the series and it looks unlikely the visitors will risk him in a dead rubber.

The performance of Steyn’s usual strike partner Morne Morkel has been one of the few bright spots for the visitors and he was the pick of the South African bowlers in Nagpur.

While India’s line-up is expected to be unchanged, South Africa could be tempted to hand back-up seamers Kyle Abbott and Marchant de Lange a chance to impress ahead of the upcoming home series against England and give Kagiso Rabada a rest.

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