South African pacer Dale Steyn has backed Ravichandran Ashwin to play a vital role for Team India in the upcoming Test series against England. India will be playing five Tests against England, starting from August 4, which will kick off the second cycle of the World Test Championship.

Ashwin has been the most prolific spinner since making his debut in Test cricket. He has bagged 413 wickets in 79 Tests and isn’t looking like stopping anytime soon.

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Steyn believes Ashwin will play a crucial role in the upcoming series and the team should think wisely before giving all the importance to pacers.

“Maybe it’s out-of-the-box thinking here from me, but I think we’re putting a lot of emphasis on the seamers when someone like R Ashwin might be the biggest key for India. As these five Test matches go on, I think spin will be the difference,” wrote Steyn in his column for ESPNcrincinfo.

The 38-year-old feels teams like Australia and England tend to not play well against spin and that makes Ashwin the biggest trump card.

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“Ashwin is the kind of bowler who bowls tons and tons of overs. Teams like England and Australia, who are so good at playing seamers and seamer-friendly conditions, don’t tend to play spin particularly well. So Ashwin might be the biggest trump card that India has going forward,” added Steyn.

Team India last toured England in 2018 and returned empty-handed after receiving a series defeat by 4-1. Ashwin bowled well during that series and snared 11 wickets in four Tests. He holds a good record against England and might be licking his lips going into the series.

The first Test will get underway from August 4 in Nottingham’s Trent Bridge.