India, Sept. 30 -- R Ashwin liked nothing more than solving problems in the middle with the zeal of an obsessed academician. Different angles and approaches would be tried, videos would be studied, the speed would be varied, the trap would be set. And more often than not, he would get his reward.

His persistence was unique because it was ever-changing. It made him a tough opponent and one that teams learned to fear, especially when touring India. With left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja giving nothing away from the other end, Ashwin was free to take a flight of fancy.

Ever since he picked a five-wicket haul on debut in 2011, the thinking off-spinner was India's main course in their winning formula at home. A cheat code to success, a worthy...