The ICC shared a video of Team India’s off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who was seen rating a compilation of cricket shots played by fans. Ashwin will be next seen in action during the ICC WTC final against New Zealand at the Rose Bowl in Southampton, starting June 18 (Friday).
Ahead of World Test championship Final, the veteran off-spinner stepped into the shoes of a cricket expert and gave some interesting reactions and ratings on strokes played by some of the fans. Reacting to a helicopter shot by Neeraj Suthar, Ashwin said:
“It is so outrageous to see people try and do this helicopter shot all the time. I have played a lot of tennis ball cricket myself. I don’t know if it has come naturally to the person, but it has become an in-thing after MS Dhoni has done it. I don’t know if I am eligible enough to rate that kind of shot, but for the sheer ability and execution it’s 8 out of 10.”
Watch the clip here:
Cricketer 🔁 Expert
A role reversal for @ashwinravi99 as he rates the cricketing skills of fans 👇 pic.twitter.com/6jAUBGKAkO
— ICC (@ICC) June 17, 2021
Also Read: WTC Final: Watch – India And New Zealand Cricketers Reveal Their Favourite Test Matches
Other clips show a youngster batting with a stump and timing the ball which impressed the veteran, a dog taking a catch, and people playing cricket in the rain. Ashwin applauded the commitment of the lads playing in such conditions.
There was also a video of a kid practicing some unorthodox shots on a hanging ball on which Ravichandran Ashwin told that even he used to toss his fridge back at home. He was also highly impressed with the video of a southpaw kid’s bat swing and a young girl batting on a carpet.
Ravichandran Ashwin is one of the greats of the game: VVS Laxman
Former India cricketer VVS Laxman has heaped praise on Ravichandran Ashwin, calling him one of the greats of the game. Laxman’s comments come after Sanjay Manjrekar stated that Ashwin doesn’t fall in the category of legends.
"We've been on a quest for excellence for a while now, and we will continue to be on that path regardless of this game" 💪
Hear what @imVkohli has to say as the start of the #WTC21 Final draws closer 🇮🇳#INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/XJs9WEWUqT
— ICC (@ICC) June 18, 2021
“…R Ashwin is a top-class off-spinner. There is no doubt he is one of the greats of the game. The way in which he has consistently won matches for India, not only but home, in the recent tour of Australia, is an example of his ability overseas. The way he restricted the run flow of the Australian batsmen (during 2020-21 Test series), the way he set Steve Smith out and got him out quite consistently shows he is high on confidence,” Laxman said to India Today.
