Former India opener Virender Sehwag has raised doubts about experienced spin-bowling all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin‘s performance in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Ashwin has struggled to take wickets, managing only two in eight matches while conceding more than nine runs per over.
Despite Ashwin’s statement that wicket-taking in T20s doesn’t matter, Sehwag criticized him, suggesting that Ashwin might not attract buyers at the auction next season.
Sehwag particularly questioned Ashwin’s T20 bowling approach, highlighting Ashwin’s comment echoing KL Rahul’s controversial stance on strike rates, implying that taking wickets in T20s isn’t crucial.
Sehwag strongly disagreed with this view, stressing the importance of bowlers being proactive in seeking wickets rather than solely focusing on restricting runs.
“This is the same as when KL Rahul had said that the strike rate doesn’t matter. Same thing. He said it for batting, Ashwin has said it for bowling that it doesn’t matter if you get the wickets.”
“If his stats aren’t good, then he may not even get picked in the auction next year. When you pick a bowler, do you expect him to give away 25-30 runs or do you expect him to give you wickets and become man of the match twice or thrice?” Sehwag said on Cricbuzz.
Sehwag doubts Ashwin’s low wicket count in IPL 2024
Sehwag criticized Ashwin’s mindset, pointing out that his teammates, Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav, have been consistently taking wickets. He stated:
“All his competitors – Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav or anyone else – are getting the wickets. He thinks if he bowls off spin then anyone will hit him. Which is why he bowls his carrom bowl, which is why he is not getting any wickets.”
“Maybe if he believes in his off spin or doosra, he can bag more wickets. But that’s his mindset. But if I were a mentor or a coach of a franchise, I wouldn’t think like that. If my bowler is thinking about saving runs and not taking wickets, he won’t find a place in the team,” he added.
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