All those who thought R. Ashwin was history, his performance against RCB in IPL 2024 shows the fire is still there in his belly. IPL 2024 has been a graveyard for bowlers in the league phase. After watching the way runs were hammered in 70 league matches over the last two months, real cricket fans who understand the nuances of the game shed tears for the bowlers. In fact, some bowlers have no hesitation in saying that T20 cricket, played on its most expansive canvas at home, has become a death knell for those who ply their trade with the white ball.
In two magical nights of the IPL at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, two bowlers have specifically attracted attention with their skills. If Mitch Starc’s return to form at the right time defined the way Kolkata Knight Riders thumped Sunrisers Hyderabad, what R. Ashwin did for Rajasthan Royals on Wednesday night was indeed the stuff of folklore.
For those who rely solely on cricket stats, there is no human element, no romance. Mitch Starc bowled the way only the Aussie can to destroy the Hyderabad side. But the latest story, a romantic one, is of how the grand old man of the IPL, Ravichandran Ashwin, has come back with a bang.
He will be 38 in September, not young by any stretch of the imagination. Some uncharitable critics have said he is not the fittest guy around, unlike Virat Kohli, who can bat, field, and show he is a brilliant athlete. Ashwin does not need to do that. All he needed to do on Wednesday in a crucial match was show how cunning and smart he can be.
For the Latest Sports News: Click Here
For those who have followed Ashwin the bowler over the last 15 years or so, he defines innovation and craftsmanship when he has the ball in his hand. It does not matter whether the ball is red or white; Ashwin will tease and torment the batter and play mind games. Then, he will showcase geometry and trajectory with the white ball, which bamboozles the batters.
His effort against the highly charged-up Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) was adrenaline-fueled and focused on sticking to the task. The dry heat in Ahmedabad was exhausting for all, players and fans included. Yet, Ashwin generated heat with the ball, turning it into a weapon.
Creativity and craft, more revs or variation, change in trajectory or confusing the minds of the batters—one got to see in four overs how Ashwin was the Lord and Master. Please, do not just rely on stats to appreciate the magic he conjured. This was mystical as well as magical from a man who knows he can only keep trying and reinventing his art. Figures of 4-0-19-2 were indeed proof Ashwin has found his mojo. To grab the wickets of Cameron Green and the overhyped Glenn Maxwell was a demonstration of how Ashwin is back in business.
In this edition of the IPL, a lot of emotions have revolved around romantic relics. Dinesh Karthik, DK in short, played his last match and walked into the sunset on Wednesday night. He had planned his retirement from the IPL and will move to a familiar pasture like commentary.
As for Ashwin, tongues were wagging—would this be the Chennai man’s last IPL match? If Rajasthan had lost, there was no certainty he would be a sure pick at the mega auction in 2025. No, Ashwin did not explode on Wednesday night because of this. As he spoke to the official broadcaster after being adjudged Player of the Match, he had been battling an injury when IPL 2024 began.
“In the first half of the season, my body wasn’t moving at all. I felt like I was not able to complete my action on many occasions. I had a little bit of an abdomen injury as well,” said Ashwin.
Well, if an ‘unfit’ Ashwin could continue, it was his commitment to the cause of his franchise, RCB. A fit Ashwin is dangerous and can wreak havoc. For those who think he attempts six variations in an over only in Test cricket, where he has 516 scalps, the Chennai guy who never gives up fought his way back into the IPL. He needs rhythm to produce that zing. Zest he has in plenty, just that the body may not always cooperate.
Suddenly, from the graveyard, if bowlers like Mitch Starc and Ashwin are back in business, that’s a new twist. Just imagine, on Friday, Ashwin will be bowling at the Chepauk against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Yes, he is there from a different franchise, but for all those who have watched Ashwin hold master classes in spin, his return to Chennai for that all-important match makes it all the more enticing. If you are still speculating this could be his last IPL match, hold your horses!
Also Read: A reverse chop shot that defied logic and defined Dinesh Karthik