By his own lofty standards, R Ashwin has had a relatively quiet time of it in the T20 World Cup. But in a tournament dominated by the faster bowers and wrist spinners—Sri Lankan Wanindu Hasaranga is the leading wicket-taker thus far with 15 scalps and Pakistani leggie Shadab Khan has 10, but the six bowlers between them are all quicks—Ashwin has kept the flag flying for the finger spinners.

On Sunday against Zimbabwe, after the pacers had reduced the opposition to 36 for five, Ashwin stepped in to deliver the knockout blows, finishing with three for 22. That took his tally of wickets for the tournament to six which, allied with an economy rate of 7.52, has reiterated his value to this Indian T20 team.