While there have been a plethora of discussions regarding India’s pace battery, spinner Ravichandran Ashwin can play a crucial role during India’s tour to the UK. Former English spinner Monty Panesar believes Ashwin can prove to a lethal cog when they will lock horns with New Zealand in the final of the inaugural World Test Championship in Southampton. The Kiwi batting line-up has a slot of southpaws and it could be just the right motivation for the off-spinner needs to go the extra mile.

Elaborating the same during a chat with ANI, Monty Panesar said, “I think New Zealand have got few left-handers in there so I am sure Ashwin will probably be the first-choice spinner. I think it is going to be a great Test match between the two sides and it’s not going to be easy for India. But with the weather around and so many left-handers in the New Zealand squad, Ashwin could be the match-winner in this final. The difference is going to be Ashwin.”

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Ashwin, who recently hit a gutsy century against England on a wicket where the world’s best batsmen were struggling to get their feet in, can put New Zealand in trouble and if he isn’t able to perform as he did a few months ago, the Indian fast bowling attack might be in pressure according to Panesar.

Explaining the same, Monty Panesar said, “If Ashwin can get the left-handers out cheaply, I think New Zealand would be in trouble, if Ashwin can’t then it would put more and more pressure on seamers. If he performs as he did in his country, India will be in a stronger position. We have a heatwave here and the weather is fantastic, I think the wicket will turn and India might go with two spinners. Also, Virat Kohli wants to get Ravindra Jadeja in the team.”

Panesar feels the concept of WTC is a great advertisement of the longest format of the game and the former spinner went on to term the summit clash as an encounter similar to arch-rivals India and Pakistan playing a Test match or the Ashes.

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Monty Panesar opined, “I think that would be a good advertisement for Test cricket and World Test Championship. I think it (best of three finals) can be the option as the two best teams are playing against each other, it kind of has a similar effect as that of the Test series between India and Pakistan or England and Australia. This could be the next series like this which the teams would be looking forward to as you don’t have the home advantage here.”