Points in favour 1) He has the most Man of the series in tests among Indian cricketers [including SRT, MSD, Kohli, Sehwag, Dravid] 2) Reached 500 club averaging 5.16 wickets a match[Murali and Hadlee are the only others with 5 wickets or above a test match stats above 400 wickets] 3) Has 36 five fors in 100 test matches - Warne has 37 and Murali has 67 and so cant be ATG in that regard yet 4) Is close to achieving 4000 runs and 550 wickets combo in a year or so from now, which will be a unique record should he reach it, as Stuart Broad has 3600 odd runs only, and ofc Warne did not reach 4k runs. 5) Has a carrom ball and a bouncy top spin which qualifies as above average variations and bag of tricks that ATGs usually have in theur armoury. 6) Has 5 test centuries and have saved many matches with the bat apart from 500 wickets in bowling department but fields like an injured person 7) Has troubled most top and middle order batsmen like Steve Smith, Labushagne, Root, Stokes etc... 8) Has gotten Seven 25 wickets or more in a series - the all time leader in that stat - Murali and Warne have 6 each. 9) Has many southpaw wickets - probably second or third most among spinners in test history 10) Has a higher batting average than bowling average amomg those with 500 or more wickets
Where he is questionable as ATG - 1) second innings scalps, 2) consecutive 5 wickets haul 3) Overseas stats.