R Ashwin

"He's taught me a lot" - Nathan Lyon on R Ashwin

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 05:24:11 GMT

Veteran Australia spinner Nathan Lyon applauded star India spinner R Ashwin, considering the significant influence Ashwin has had on his career as well. The Australian spinner also named Ashwin as one of his mentors, particularly during his preparations for tours to India as well. However, Lyon has often seen footage of R Ashwin's bowling on the subcontinent's spin-friendly pitches to know his strategies and improve his own game too.

"He's taught me a lot," Lyon admitted. "I'm a big believer that the players you compete against are your best coaches. I've watched a lot of his footage heading over to India, the way he goes about it here in Australia, and see if I can pick up anything."

R Ashwin to play a key role for India

However, both the bowlers have done well in their respective careers, with Lyon generating overspin and bounce on Australian pitches, while R Ashwin has the ability to bowl relentlessly with many variations, including his famous carrom ball as well.

Reflecting on this, Nathan Lyon jokingly shared that star Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja's close watch on media reports, adding, "I know Jadeja reads all of this stuff, so I can't really share all my secrets." However, he did share insight into his approach: "My big thing is spinning up the back of the ball and getting bounce, but it's a hard craft to be able to do that in Australia. Your margin for error is extremely small."

"India's got the wood over us in the past few series" - Nathan Lyon

"India's got the wood over us in the past few series, but if you're looking at the World Test Championship (final) in England, we were able to beat them there, and I know that should give us a bit of confidence heading into this summer," Nathan Lyon concluded. "I feel like we're on the journey to becoming a great team. We're not there yet, there's a bit of work to do, but we have the opportunity to do something pretty special this summer."

However, India, currently ranked No. 2 in the world, will try to bounce back from a 3-0 series whitewash to New Zealand as well. And cricket fans can expect thrilling encounters between the two sides as well.

R Ashwin breaks Anil Kumble's 18-year-old record at Wankhede

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 05:08:47 GMT

Veteran India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin added yet another feat to his Test career on Day 2 of the third Test against New Zealand. Taking three important wickets for 63 runs, he surpassed legendary Anil Kumble to become the highest wicket-taker at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium, scalping 41 wickets across six matches at an average of 19.75 as well. Kumble held the record of 38 wickets in seven matches so far.

R Ashwin bounced back in the second innings

However, Ashwin’s performance on the second day of the Test gave a much-needed breakthrough to the hosts. After going wicketless in the first innings with figures of 0/47 in 14 overs, he bounced back in the second innings, dismantling New Zealand’s middle order as well.

Ashwin's spell will give him a much-needed boost

His third scalp was Will Young, who was also got out by his carrom ball. Attempting a drive, Young ended up smashing the ball straight back to the bowler, giving Ashwin his third wicket and tightening India’s hold on the game. Ashwin’s stunning show, alongside Ravindra Jadeja’s four-wicket haul, left New Zealand struggling at 171/9 by stumps, on Day 2 as well.

However, this three-wicket haul will give confidence to Ashwin, as he heads into India’s upcoming five-match Test series against Australia as well. Having managed just six wickets in the last five innings of this series which came at an average of 51.33, his Day 2 performance helped him to get back his rhythm.

R Ashwin decodes difference between Rahul Dravid and Gautam Gambhir

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 06:00:17 GMT

Team India head coach Gautam Gambhir tasted his first success in the longer format as India beat Bangladesh in the first Test convincingly. After Rahul Dravid's tenure ended after the team won the 2024 T20 World Cup, Gambhir took the reins. And, after the ongoing Bangladesh Test series, India will play New Zealand and Australia in the longer format as well. And, Ravichandran Ashwin will be important for India as well. Before that, Ashwin described how Gambhir and Dravid are different as head coaches.

'I think Gambhir is very relaxed' - R Ashwin

"I think he (Gambhir) is very relaxed. There is nothing at all. In the morning, in the huddle. 'Are you coming?' Like that. Rahul Bhai is like, we will come. As soon as we come, the bottles should be in a place. He is very regimented. He is like, everything should be in order, according to him. He has a relaxed order. I feel that he captures the minds of the people. He loves the boys. He is not only relaxed," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

However, R Ashwin expressed his gratitude towards the crowd for their support throughout the 1st India vs Bangladesh Test match in Chennai. He also added that this was one of the best Test pitches he has played on in India so far and also urged curators to create similar pitches for Tamil Nadu's Ranji Trophy games as well.

"Easily one of the best cricket pitches I have played in India" - R Ashwin

"The crowd was so passionate about watching the match," Ashwin said.

"Easily one of the best cricket pitches I have played in India for a while. Awesome pitch and I really hope Tamil Nadu play Ranji Trophy on such pitches. The way they have laid the pitch, they should take it to the next level. Outstanding Test match wicket. Earlier, there was a curator named Pacha. He said. 'sir the wicket will be good for the fast bowlers in the morning'. The batting will be easy. Then it will turn and the match will be over'. But like he said, the first day, there will be bounce," R Ashwin concluded.

WATCH: Gautam Gambhir reacts as Ravichandran Ashwin hits a brilliant cut shot

Thu, 19 Sep 2024 09:54:15 GMT

Veteran India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin came to bat in the second session of Day 1 of the ongoing first Test against Bangladesh at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Put into bat first, Team India faced trouble with a few quick dismissals, courtesy of a stunning bowling show of the visitors. Their lines and lengths troubled Indian batters, especially Hasan Mahmud, who provided the early breakthroughs.

India lost Rohit Sharma (6), Virat Kohli (6) and Shubman Gill very cheaply. After that, Yashasvi Jaiswal (56) and Rishabh Pant (39) steadied the ship and ensured that they didn't lose any more wickets in the first session of Day 1 as well. However in the second session, both the set batters failed to keep the momentum along with KL Rahul (16). And, their dismissals caused Ravichandran Ashwin to walk out in the middle. The off-spinner came out to bat in the 43rd over on home ground as well.

Gautam Gambhir impressed with R Ashwin's shot

However, Ravichandran Ashwin has played a positive brand of cricket so far. He has also played quite a few shots in his short innings so far, hitting a few boundaries and scoring quickly as well. Notably, he hit the cut shot that he played against Nahid Rana which also impressed the head coach Gautam Gambhir, who was in the dugout. It happened on the last ball of the 44th over when the speedster bowled a 144.2kph as well.

Here's the video:

Perfection guaranteed when Ashwin is at the crease 👌#INDvBAN #IDFCFirstBankTestSeries #JioCinemaSports pic.twitter.com/uERPJBXpyI
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) September 19, 2024

You can't call them an underdog anymore - R Ashwin on Bangladesh

However, ahead of the game, Ravichandran Ashwin opined about the challenge against Bangladesh, sharing that the opposition has done well and they cannot be taken as underdogs. He also showed his delight to face the team as well.

He stated: "Certainly, they (Bangladesh) have put their hand up and said, 'Look, we are a team on the rise, and we are playing wonderful cricket.' I watched some of those clips (vs Pakistan); it wasn't live in India, but it truly an exceptional result for the Bangladeshi cricket team."

"I am one of those guys who loves to see the underdog come out and perform. You can't call them an underdog anymore, they have played some wonderful cricket. They challenged us in Bangladesh when we were there the last time. Really looking forward to a good series." He concluded.

Squads, fixtures and streaming, check all the details of Tamil Nadu Premier League 2024

Thu, 04 Jul 2024 12:42:48 GMT

Get ready for another exhilarating season of cricket as the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) returns for its 2024 edition, kicking off on Friday, July 5. Just like last year, eight dynamic teams will battle it out for the coveted TNPL trophy, promising fans a summer filled with high-octane action, nail-biting finishes, and exceptional cricketing talent.

History of TNPL

The TNPL, established in 2016, has rapidly grown into one of India’s premier T20 leagues. It has provided a platform for local talent to shine and has been instrumental in discovering future stars for Indian cricket. Over the years, the league has seen fierce competition, with teams like Chepauk Super Gillies and Lyca Kovai Kings emerging as dominant forces.

Teams and Players to watch

The 2024 edition features eight teams, each packed with talent and ready to make their mark. Key players to watch include Sai Sudharsan, Shahrukh Khan, Baba Aparajith, N Jagadeesan, Ravichandran Ashwin, Varun Chakravarthy, Sandeep Warrier, Vijay Shankar, T Natarajan, Sai Kishore, and Baba Indrajith. These stars are expected to light up the tournament with their skills and performances.

Kickoff Match: Lyca Kovai Kings vs. Chepauk Super Gillies

The tournament will kick off with a thrilling match between the defending champions Lyca Kovai Kings and the formidable Chepauk Super Gillies at the SCF Cricket Ground in Salem. This opening clash promises to set the tone for the rest of the tournament, with key players from both sides looking to make a strong start.

Venue Details

SCF Cricket Ground, Salem

A picturesque venue known for its lively atmosphere and excellent pitch conditions, making it a favorite among players and fans alike.

SBR College Cricket Ground, Coimbatore

A relatively new venue but quickly gaining a reputation for high-scoring games and passionate local support.

Indian Cement Company Ground, Tirunelveli

A historic ground that has hosted numerous memorable matches, known for its challenging pitch and vibrant crowd.

NPR College Ground, Dindigul

Renowned for its excellent facilities and a track that offers something for both batsmen and bowlers.

MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

One of India’s iconic cricket stadiums, famous for its electric atmosphere and being a fortress for the home teams.

Tournament format

The TNPL 2024 will follow a single round-robin format, with each team facing every other team once. This ensures a total of 28 league stage matches, keeping fans on the edge of their seats. The top four teams will then progress to the playoffs, adopting a format similar to the IPL:

Qualifier 1

The top two teams face off, with the winner earning a direct ticket to the Final.

Eliminator

The third and fourth-placed teams battle it out, with the winner moving on to play the loser of Qualifier 1 in Qualifier 2.

Qualifier 2

The winner of the Eliminator takes on the loser of Qualifier 1, with the victor advancing to the Final.

Final

The ultimate showdown where the winners of Qualifier 1 and Qualifier 2 compete for the TNPL 2024 title.

Schedule and Key dates

The league stage runs from July 5 to July 16, across five venues. The Quarter Finals and Eliminator will be played on July 30 and 31 in Dindigul, while the final stages, including Quarter Final 2 and the grand finale, will be hosted at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on August 2 and 4.

Double headers

Seven double-headers are scheduled throughout the league stage, with afternoon matches starting at 3:15 pm IST and evening encounters commencing at 7:15 pm IST. This format not only maximizes viewership but also adds to the excitement and intensity of the competition.

Introduction of DRS

For the first time in TNPL history, umpires will have access to the Decision Review System (DRS) for all matches. However, the DRS cannot be used to overturn no-ball or wide calls, ensuring that the system complements the on-field umpires without undermining their authority.

Broadcast and Live Streaming details

All matches will be streamed live on the FanCode app and website. However, none of the games will be broadcast on TV.

Tamil Nadu Premier League 2024: Full schedule

Match 1: July 5, Lyca Kovai Kings vs Chepauk Super Gillies, 7:15 pm, Salem
Match 2: July 6, Dindigul Dragons vs Trichy Grand Cholas, 3:15 pm, Salem
Match 3: July 6, Salem Spartans vs Siechem Madurai Panthers, 7:15 pm, Salem
Match 4: July 7, Nellai Royal Kings vs Chepauk Super Gillies, 3:15 pm, Salem
Match 5: July 7, Lyca Kovai Kings vs IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans, 7:15 pm, Salem
Match 6: July 8, Dindigul Dragons vs Salem Spartans, 7:15 pm, Salem
Match 7: July 9, Siechem Madurai Panthers vs Trichy Grand Cholas, 7:15 pm, Salem
Match 8: July 10, Chepauk Super Gillies vs IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans, 7:15 pm, Salem
Match 9: July 11, Nellai Royal Kings vs Salem Spartans, 7:15 pm, Salem
Match 10: July 13, Siechem Madurai Panthers vs IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans, 3:15 pm, Coimbatore
Match 11: July 13, Lyca Kovai Kings vs Nellai Royal Kings, 7:15 pm, Coimbatore
Match 12: July 14, Salem Spartans vs Trichy Grand Cholas, 3:15 pm, Coimbatore
Match 13: July 14, Chepauk Super Gillies vs Dindigul Dragons, 7:15 pm, Coimbatore
Match 14: July 15, Siechem Madurai Panthers vs Nellai Royal Kings, 7:15 pm, Coimbatore
Match 15: July 16, Trichy Grand Cholas vs Lyca Kovai Kings, 7:15 pm, Coimbatore
Match 16: July 17, IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans vs Dindigul Dragons, 7:15 pm, Coimbatore
Match 17: July 18, Salem Spartans vs Chepauk Super Gillies, 7:15 pm, Coimbatore
Match 18: July 20, Trichy Grand Cholas vs Nellai Royal Kings, 7:15 pm, Tirunelveli
Match 19: July 21, Dindigul Dragons vs Lyca Kovai Kings, 3:15 pm, Tirunelveli
Match 20: July 21, IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans vs Salem Spartans, 7:15 pm, Tirunelveli
Match 21: July 22, Trichy Grand Cholas vs Chepauk Super Gillies, 7:15 pm, Tirunelveli
Match 22: July 23, Siechem Madurai Panthers vs Lyca Kovai Kings, 7:15 pm, Tirunelveli
Match 23: July 24, Nellai Royal Kings vs IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans, 7:15 pm, Tirunelveli
Match 24: July 26, Dindigul Dragons vs Siechem Madurai Panthers, 7:15 pm, Dindigul
Match 25: July 27, Salem Spartans vs Lyca Kovai Kings, 3:15 pm, Dindigul
Match 26: July 27, IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans vs Trichy Grand Cholas, 7:15 pm, Dindigul
Match 27: July 28, Chepauk Super Gillies vs Siechem Madurai Panthers, 3:15 pm, Dindigul
Match 28: July 28, Nellai Royal Kings vs Dindigul Dragons, 7:15 pm, Dindigul
Match 29: July 30, Qualifier 1, 7:15 pm, Dindigul
Match 30: July 31, Eliminator, 7:15 pm, Dindigul
Match 31: August 2, Qualifier 2, 7:15 pm, Chennai
Match 32: August 4, Final, 7:15 pm, Chennai

TNPL 2024: Squads of all 8 teams

Chepauk Super Gillies: Aparajith B, Arunachalam V, Ayyappan B, Narayan Jagadeesan, Jitendra Kumar CH, Lokesh Raj TD, Madankumar S, Pradosh Ranjan Paul, Rahil S Shah, Sibi R, Silambarasan M, Daryl S Ferrario, Periyasamy G, Aswin Christ A, Abhishek Tanwar, Satish R, Shajahan M , Surya B, Santhosh Kumar D, Andre Siddharth C.

Dindigul Dragons: Affan Khader M, Ravichandran Ashwin, Boopathi, Vaishnav Kumar, Diran VP, Indrajith B, Kishore G, Sarath Kumar C, Shivam Singh, Subodh Kumar Bhati, Varun CV, Vignesh P, Vimal Khumar R, Sandeep Warrier, Rocky B, Rohan Raju, Om Nithin K, Ilaiyaraja P, Ashik K.

IDream Tiruppur Tamizhans: Ajith Ram S, Anirudh Sita Ram, Buvaneshwaran P, Ganesh S, Karuppusamy A, Manikandan S, Mohammed Ali S, Radhakrishnan S, Tushar Raheja, Vijay Shankar, Sai Kishore R, Thangarasu Natarajan, Maan K Bafna, Anovankar, Ram Kumar, Jeevanantham, Amit Sathvik, Karthik Saran, Rohit R, Madhivanan M

Lyca Kovai Kings: Atheeq ur Rahman MA, Divakar R, Gowtham Thamarai Kannan K, Hemcharan P, Jhathavedh Subramanyan, Mohammed M, Mugilesh U, Om Prakash KM, Ram Arvindh R, Sachin B, Sai Sudharsan B, Shahrukh Khan M, Siddharth M, Sujay S, Suresh Kumar J, Vidyuth P, Yudheeswaran V, Manish GR, Vignesh GV, Meeran Rahil Rahman.

Nellai Royal Kings: Ajithesh G, Arun Karthik KB, Arun Kumar SJ, Emmanuel Cheriyan B, Harish NS, Kabilan N, Lakshay Jain S, Mohan Prasath S, Nidhish S Rajagopal, Rithik Eswaran S, Rohan J, Sonu Yadav R, Sugendhiran P, Suryaprakash L, Mokit Hariharan .S, Gohulmoorthi S, Gowtham V, Abhilash AV, Kirubakaran R, Silambarasan R.

Salem Spartans: Abhishiek S, Ganesh Moorthi M, Guru Sayee S, Jaganath Sinivas RS, Kavin R, Mohammed Adnan Khan, Sachin Rathi, Selvakumaran N, Sunny Sandhu, Vivek R, Harish Kumar S, Aushiq Srinivas R, Robin Singh Bist, Shijit Chandran P, Vishal Vaidhya K, Poiyamozhi M, Rajan R, Yazh Arun Mozhi, Tarun Kumar V, Sudhan Sanjeevi Kandepan.

Siechem Madurai Panthers: Aditya V, Ajay K Krishnan, Ashwin M, Ayush M, Gurjapneet Singh, Hari Nishaanth C, Kousik J, Lokeshwar S, Rahul D, Saravanan P, Sri Abisek AS, Swapnil K Singh, Washington Sundar MS, Chatruvedh NS, Sasidev. U, Alexander R, Kiran Akash, Ajay Chetan J, Karthik Manikandan VS, Akram Khan M.

Trichy Grand Cholas (Ba11sy Trichy): Anthony Das, Adithyaraj Davidson, Eswaran K, Francis Rokins, Ganga Sridhar Raju V, Godson G, Jafar Jamal, Mani Bharathi K, Raj Kumar K, Raj Kumar R, Vinod SP, Saravanakumar P, Vignesh K, Sanjay Yadav R, Nirmal Kumar P, Shyam Sundar, Mohammed Ashik, Arjun P Murthy, Arya Yohan Menon, Rajin J.

Former BCCI chief N Srinivasan honored Ashwin with Rs 1 crore, check the full report

Sat, 16 Mar 2024 15:34:01 GMT

In a stellar display of skill and perseverance, Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin etched his name in cricketing history during the recent 5-match Test series against England.

Ravichandran Ashwin’s Milestone

Ashwin’s remarkable feat of claiming 500 Test wickets and completing 100 matches in international cricket underscores his dominance in the sport. His consistency and dedication have earned him a revered place among cricketing legends.

Recognition from Former BCCI Chief

Former BCCI Chief N. Srinivasan’s gesture of presenting Ashwin with a Rs 1 crore check reflects the cricketing fraternity’s acknowledgment of his unparalleled achievements. Ashwin’s contributions to Indian cricket are invaluable, and his milestone is celebrated with admiration and respect.

N Srinivasan hands him a cheque of Rs 1 crore to Ashwin for playing 100 Tests and picking up 500 Test wickets. pic.twitter.com/zEPo8Kb4nj
— Venkata Krishna B (@venkatatweets) March 16, 2024

Ashwin’s Performance in the Test Series

Throughout the Test series against England, Ashwin exhibited exceptional prowess with both bat and ball. His precision bowling and crucial breakthroughs stifled the English batting lineup, while his batting prowess bolstered India’s position in critical junctures.

Ashwin’s stellar performances were pivotal in India’s resounding victory in the five-match Test series against England. His ability to deliver under pressure and turn the game’s tide exemplifies his importance to the Indian team.

Looking ahead, Ashwin is set to showcase his talent in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, representing Rajasthan Royals. His past performances for the franchise have been commendable, and fans eagerly anticipate his stellar displays in the upcoming season.

Expectations for IPL 2024

As Ashwin gears up for IPL 2024, expectations are high among Rajasthan Royals fans. His exceptional skills with both bat and ball make him a valuable asset to the team, and supporters anticipate another memorable season from the veteran all-rounder.

Rajasthan Royals will kick off their IPL 2024 campaign against Lucknow Super Giants on March 24 at the iconic Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. Ashwin’s presence promises to add excitement and depth to the team’s lineup as they aim for success in the tournament.

IND vs ENG: R Ashwin applauds Kuldeep Yadav for his stunning spell

Sat, 09 Mar 2024 10:50:00 GMT

Veteran India spinner R Ashwin applauded Kuldeep Yadav for playing a huge role in India’s 4–1 series win against England. On Saturday, March 9, Team India beat England by an innings and 64 runs in the 5th and final Test at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium in Bangalore as well.

“I can’t be more happy for somebody” – R Ashwin on Kuldeep Yadav

Meanwhile, Kuldeep Yadav played 4 Test matches where he picked up 19 wickets. In the Dharamsala Test, Kuldeep picked up a 5-wicket haul in the first innings as well followed by taking 2 crucial wickets of Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow in the second innings as well.

“The way the ball is coming out of Kuldeep’s hand is unbelievable, I can’t be more happy for somebody,” R Ashwin said after the match.

ALSO READ: Zaheer Khan shares MS Dhoni’s plans after IPL 2024

On the other hand, R Ashwin also had a memorable outing in the Test series after he finished as the highest wicket-taker with 26 scalps from 5 matches with 1 four-wicket haul and 2 five-wicket hauls as well. However, Ashwin had a quiet start to the series and playing his 100th Test, he finished the fifth and final Test with 9 wickets, including a fifer.

“Cricket is a game played between your ears” – R Ashwin

“Very happy, can’t really put a wrapper on how I’m feeling. Lot happened, lot of talk about the 100th Test. Overwhelmed, a lot of well-wishers have come forward. Win the Test and take wickets, what more can a bowler ask for?” he said.

“Tried different actions, speeds, releases through the series. You need that skillset in India. Pleased with how the ball came out today, even though I went for a few. Cricket is a game played between your ears. Looks like a lot is happening because the new ball is biting off the surface,” R Ashwin concluded.

On Day 3, Team India took a huge lead of 259 runs in their first innings. And, then they bowled the visitors out for 195 in 48.1 overs as well.

IND vs ENG, 5th Test: R Ashwin becomes 14th Indian to play 100 Tests

Thu, 07 Mar 2024 07:15:00 GMT

Veteran India off-spinner R Ashwin became just the 14th player to reach the milestone of 100 Test matches for India during the fifth Test against England at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association stadium in Dharamsala on Thursday as well.

Ashwin, who made his debut in Tests against the West Indies in New Delhi way back in 2011, is also the first player from Tamil Nadu to reach the 100-Test feat. He is also the oldest Indian to reach the landmark as well as he reached the achievement at 37 years old.

The off-spinner became the second Indian player, after Anil Kumble, to claim 500 Test wickets, after scalping the wicket of Zak Crawley during the third Test at Rajkot as well. His 507 Test wickets have come at an average of 23.91 as well. He has also scored 3309 runs in the longer format, including five Test centuries, with an average of 26.47 as well.

ALSO READ: Irfan Pathan questions Pat Cummins’ appointment as SRH captain for IPL 2024

Time taken between the 1st and 100th Test by Indian players

Sunil Gavaskar – 13 years, 7 months, 11 days
Dilip Vengsarkar – 12 years 10 months
Kapil Dev – 11 years 30 days
Sachin Tendulkar – 12 years 9 months 21 days
Anil Kumble – 15 years 4 months 9 days
Rahul Dravid – 9 years 8 months 26 days
Sourav Ganguly – 11 years 6 months 6 days
VVS Laxman – 11 years 11 months 17 days
Virender Sehwag – 11 years 20 days
Harbhajan Singh – 14 years 10 months 28 days
Ishant Sharma – 13 years 8 months 30 days
Virat Kohli – 10 years 8 months 12 days
Cheteshwar Pujara – 12 years 4 months 8 days
R. Ashwin – 12 years 4 months 1 day

However, ahead of the landmark Test, Ashwin opened up about the on-field battles he has enjoyed through our the years.

“I have loved bowling to Steve Smith, Williamson and Joe Root. They are some of the finest batters going around the world now,” R Ashwin was quoted as saying in a PTI report. “When I played first-class, I had the privilege of bowling to some of the gun batters of spin – I have bowled to S Badrinath at the Tamil Nadu nets, and he was one of the finest batters of spin, then Mithun Manhas, Rajat Bhatia.”

“These are some of the greatest batters of spin who I would have not wanted to encounter in international cricket. They were my finishing school before I went on to play international cricket. I’d like to take my hat out to them because they gave me some valuable lessons,” R Ashwin concluded.

RR vs PBKS: Why did Ashwin open for RR? Sanju Samson gives huge update on Jos Buttler

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 23:31:07 GMT

During their 198-run loss to Shikhar Dhawan’s free-scoring Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Wednesday, Sanju Samson and co. gave superstar Jos Buttler a surprise batting demotion, leaving Rajasthan Royals (RR) with a mountain to climb. Ravichandran Ashwin, an experienced all-rounder who has experimented with his batting in the Indian Premier League (IPL), opened the batting for the Royals with Yashasvi Jaiswal, a young player.

Ashwin, who took Buttler’s place as RR’s temporary opener against Punjab Kings, failed to impress and lost four balls for a duck. The cricketer with street smarts became the first batter in the cash-rich league to be tactically retired out last year. While southpaw Devdutt Padikkal made an appearance as a middle-order batter, Buttler, who switched batting positions with Ashwin, walked out to bat at No. 3.

Image Source: The Indian Express

Even though it was obvious that Buttler would not start for the Royals, the RR think tank preferred Ashwin as a temporary option rather than promoting Padikkal, a natural opener. After the game, when asked about RR’s top-order strategy, Rajasthan skipper Samson said that Buttler had an injury scare while playing for the champions in 2008.

“Jos wasn’t fully fit. He had a stitch on his finger. The thinking behind Devdutt Padikkal at No. 4 was we knew that they had a left-arm spinner (Harpreet Brar) and leg spinner (Rahul Chahar) who would be bowling in the middle overs. So, it was important for us to have a left-hander,”
said Samson, who top-scored for the Royals against Punjab. The Englishman injured his finger after taking a diving catch of Shahrukh Khan.

In the 20-over match at Guwahati, PBKS scored 197/4 thanks to Dhawan’s stunning 56-ball knock of 86 runs. In answer, Rajasthan marshaled 192/7 as Samson and Co. lost the match by 5 runs. Padikkal ended up playing a frustrating knock of 21 off 26 balls, while England captain Buttler scored 19 off 11 balls. Shimron Hetmyer (36 off 18 balls) and Impact Player Dhruv Jurel (32* off 15 balls) staged RR’s comeback in the final overs, ensuring that Rajasthan can still win the high-scoring match.

What. A. Take 💪@josbuttler puts in a magnificent dive to dismiss the well set Prabhsimran for 60!@rajasthanroyals with their first wicket.#TATAIPL | #RRvPBKS pic.twitter.com/apJpCQmqjf
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 5, 2023

However, PBKS won the IPL 2023 for the second time in a row thanks to Sam Curran’s heroics in the final over. The PBKS signing that set a record held his nerve and stopped 16 runs in the final over.

Rajasthan skipper Sanju Samson praised Jurel’s fighting knock against Punjab in light of RR’s performance

“The coaches have put a lot of work behind him (on Dhruv Jurel), we had a work week camp before the IPL, but the way they have worked a lot of time in our academies (during off-season), having faced 1000s of balls and I’m happy with the way they’re progressing. I was expecting the dew to come in the second innings, but it was evident that it was there right at the start. I need to be prepared better for such things in the next game,”
Samson concluded.

ICC Rankings 2023: Virat makes a comeback, Ashwin & Axar make huge gains

Wed, 15 Mar 2023 06:10:25 GMT

After India’s 2-1 series victory over Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy that took place just a few days ago, a number of Indian cricketers, including Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Axar Patel, have made significant advancements in the ICC Test rankings. Driving the way is Virat Kohli, who after a hole of more than three years, scored his most first Test century and was hence moved seven spots to be positioned No. 13 out of the total.

Image Source: Hindustan Times

At one time, the No. After a string of poor performances, Kohli, the No. 1 batter in all formats, dropped out of the Top-10 in July of last year. While he still hasn’t broken into the Top 10, his 186-run outing for Indian fans is hopefully a sign of things to come.

Being India’s highest and overall second-highest BGT 2023 run-getter resulted in a seven-place jump

He is only ahead of Rohit Sharma (10th) and Rishabh Pant (5th), two Indians. Only Usman Khawaja had more runs in the series than Kohli did.

Even though Kohli didn’t score a lot, the former India captain showed signs of being free-spirited throughout the series. After a 44-run innings in Delhi, which many thought was his best performance in a long time, he held up one end in the series decider. India took the lead and batted out Australia in 1205 days thanks to Kohli’s 28th Test century.

Ashwin, on the other hand, established himself as the sole No. 1 after supplanting James Anderson at the top, the No. 1 bowler

Ashwin and Anderson were selected as the joint No. 1 contenders after a pitched battle. One of the highest-ranked ICC Test bowlers, his 32nd five-wicket haul in Ahmedabad propelled him to 869 points, 10 points ahead of the legendary England pacer.

Ashwin, with 26 wickets in the series was pronounced the Player of the Series, imparting the distinctions to turn accomplice Ravindra Jadeja. Ashwin scored two 5-wicket hauls in the series, 5/37 in Nagpur and 6/91 in Ahmedabad, in addition to four 3-wicket hauls. utter dominance.

Ravichandran Ashwin regains No. 1 spot for Test bowlers
.
.
.#Batbricks7 #BB7 #RavichandranAshwin #Ashwin #ICC #ICCRankings #BCCI #ViratKohli𓃵 pic.twitter.com/MIyfsjXmeU
— BatBricks7 (@Batbricks7) March 15, 2023

Axar, like Kohli and Ashwin, was lavishly rewarded for enjoying a memorable series. Although the left-arm spinner only took two wickets, his batting, in which he scored 264 runs, including three half-centuries, propelled him up eight spots to number 44 on the list of Test batters. In the first Test, Axar scored a career-high 84 runs, and in the second, he scored 74 runs in Delhi to help India secure comprehensive victories. Both of these performances came at crucial points in the match when his team was most in need of them.

Image Source: NDTV Sports

As if that weren’t enough evidence of how far Axar’s batting has come, the all-rounder hit an amusing 79 against his hometown of Ahmedabad, providing Kohli with company for a massive 262-run partnership.

Australia also got a boost from the recognition given to Usman Khawaja, Cameron Green, and Travis Head for their performances. Khawaja, who topped the list with 333 runs, moved up two spots to be ranked seventh. All-rounder Cameron Green, who scored his first Test century, moved up 11 spots to be ranked 26th, a career high. In contrast, Travis Head remained at fifth place.