Can Ashwin continue his golden run away from home?

The ace off-spinner has been dominant in home conditions, claiming 180 wickets in 26 Tests but overseas he has struggled with 67 wickets from 17 games.

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is going through a purple patch but only time will tell whether he is able to replicate his stupendous home success when the team travels overseas, says former India spinner Murali Kartik.

Kartik's logic is simple. He says the conditions are drastically different in countries like England, Australia and South Africa, therefore success is not guaranteed.

"I am nobody to comment on that (whether he would extend his phenomenal phase overseas). Overseas conditions are very different so time will tell," Kartik, who represented India between 2000 and 2007, told PTI on Wednesday.

Ashwin, who alongside Virat Kohli, has contributed significantly to India's recent success in Tests helping the number one team win five straight series.

The Tamil Nadu off-spinner is arguably the best spinner in the world at the moment but bigger challenges await him when India next play in pacer-friendly surfaces abroad.

Ashwin has been dominant in home conditions, claiming 180 wickets in 26 matches with an average of just 20 but overseas he has struggled with 67 wickets from 17 games at an average of 33.

Kartik also spoke about domestic cricket in regards to recent comments made by Sachin Tendulkar on the format of Ranji Trophy.

Tendulkar has proposed a format which will see matches being played on two different pitches for either innings with two different balls -- Kookaburra and SG. The idea though was recently shot down by the Marylebone Cricket Club.

Kartik feels that one brand, either SG, Dukes or Kookaburra should be used for international matches all over the world.

"My personal belief is that Kookaburra in Indian conditions doesn't work. The pitches don't suit the ball and after 15 overs, whether for spinners or pacers, there is nothing left on the ball.

"Worldwide, I personally feel we should have just one standard ball which suits everybody in all conditions. I talking from the bowlers' point of view and not just from the spinners' point of view. I don't know in what context Sachin said it but this is my view on the subject," added the  40-year-old, who played 203 first-class matches.

IMAGE: Ravichandran Ashwin bowls.

Photograph: BCCI