Ashwin brings the magic to his homecoming, playing at No. 7 in his team's first game...
Digital Desk: Ravichandran Ashwin has been one of the most impressive bowlers in the first two weeks of the IPL 2023. Only Ravindra Jadeja has conceded fewer than seven wickets in the top five, and two of the four games played by the Rajasthan Royals have taken place in Guwahati. So it was no surprise when Ashwin returned to a location he knew better than most on Wednesday (April 12).
In his first over, he plotted to chase Ajinkya Rahane, but he got his man at the perfect time for the visitors, who had been placed under pressure by the former India captain. Even after the powerplay, Rahane was pushing the tempo and had previously droved Ashwin for a six by striding down the wicket. In round two, though, Ashwin defeated him with a well-hidden game ball that came much fuller to trap him leg-before-wicket. The Royals took advantage of the opportunity to put the brakes on.
CSK's attempt to counter a spin troika of Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Adam Zampa with Shivam Dube failed as the seasoned offspinner took him out before he could tee off. "He is CSK's designated spin hitter. "I knew he was going to come after me after the way he played Kuldeep (Sen) the previous over," Ashwin remarked after the game.
"I didn't have any deliberate plans, but I feel the ball is coming out well, I'm able to get it to drop, I'm able to put enough revs, I'm able to use both my variations, my length, and the arm ball is good at the moment." I'm simply pleased with how it's turning out." Ashwin went on to say.
Despite the fact that the Royals' spinners out-bowled their CSK counterparts despite the possibility of dew, Ashwin confessed that the on-field umpire's choice to change the ball during the run chase lessened the disparity to some extent.
Ashwin performed brilliantly in the game's latter stages as well. CSK needed 63 from the final five overs and had their dependable evergreen combo of Ravindra Jadeja and MS Dhoni out in the middle when Ashwin came on.
The 36-year-old has concluded the IPL with stats of 1/27, 1/25, 2/25, and 2/25. Those are amazing performances in what has been a high-scoring competition thus far. Ashwin is once again out of contention for a position in India's white-ball squads. However, he isn't letting anything bother him right now. "I'm just enjoying the way I'm bowling, I'm not giving it too much thought," he explained. "As someone who bowls at different stages of the game, I have to prepare myself to bowl different lengths, speeds, and trajectories."
In his euphoric return, Ashwin's magic was not limited to the mastery of his core craft. While spin was expected to play a significant impact, Jos Buttler and Yashasvi Jaiswal put the likes of Maheesh Theekshana and Moeen Ali to the sword. The game, however, was flipped upside down when Jadeja entered, as he caused the ball to grip and cause trouble. The left-arm spinner took two wickets in three deliveries to surprise the Royals, forcing them to move Ashwin up the order to counter the threat.
Despite a brief reprieve, Ashwin was able to complete the majority of Jadeja's following two overs without further harm. By the conclusion of that remarkable spell, Ashwin had only made 10 out of 14 balls, but he knew stronger matchups awaited him to make up for the lost time. Akash Singh, playing his maiden game for CSK, bore the brunt of the punishment as Ashwin blasted him for consecutive sixes to bring the Royals back on track.
Ashwin batted at No. 7 in his team's first game, then began the innings in the following one before walking out at No. 5 against CSK. "To be fair, every single match we bat, I'm padded up either as a showpiece or as a batsman," he said, dismissing accusations that batting up the order was his idea.
"I've just padded up, and I'm ready to go at any time." If you put a batter in that position and ask them to bat in any order, they might not do it gladly, but for someone like me who doesn't bat as much throughout the season, I'm glad I'm having an opportunity to at least pad up. So I simply keep padded up and ready to go." added Ashwin.
Leave A Comment