There is a new-found vigour in the way R. Ashwin goes about his job in the ongoing IPL season. He is pumped up on the field, his wicket celebrations are very animated and he shows a lot of character in leading Kings XI Punjab from the front.
It was Ashwin’s all-round brilliance that earned Kings XI a much-needed win over Rajasthan Royals on Tuesday night. His cameo of 17 runs off four balls proved decisive in the final analysis. Ashwin also took the wickets of Sanju Samson and Rahul Tripathi to leave Royals’ chase in a shambles.
When the two teams had squared off last time, Ashwin’s ‘Mankading’ act triggered a huge controversy. It’s impressive how quickly he has turned the focus around. Even though he had his share of supporters, the ‘Mankading’ episode surely earned him more flak. But the TN cricketer has shown that he’s strong enough to deal with the tough situation.
At a time when finger spinners are not considered a great asset in limited-overs cricket, Ashwin has reinvented himself to stay relevant. “A spinner is someone who reinvents the wheel all the time. For me, it’s about hitting various lengths at different speeds -- the undercutter and the reverse carrom. I live by the sword and die by it, plenty of people say I try too much, but it’s good that I’m keeping on experimenting,” said Ashwin who has taken 11 wickets in nine matches this season with an economy rate of 7.44.
Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar said Ashwin as captain in T20 cricket adds a lot of value to the team. “When he is not leading the side, there are better bowlers for India. Ashwin falls back a little bit when it comes to taking wickets. But he has ticked that column this IPL,” said Manjrekar.
Manjrekar said Ashwin is an interesting character and has a lot of aspirations. “While bowling for Kings XI, he is trying to show the national selectors and somebody in the Indian team that he is still relevant and a match-winner,” he added.
Former Aussie pacer Shaun Tait said Ashwin’s move from his home franchisee CSK to Kings XI Punjab proved to be a blessing in disguise. “He had always been under Dhoni’s stewardship in CSK. It’s the same at Team India under Kohli. In a way, Kings XI have provided the best platform for Ashwin to express as a captain,” added Tait.
