IND vs BAN: Ravichandran Ashwin Believes ICC Intended To Curb India's Dominance By Introducing Powerplay Rules In 2015

Indian offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin made shocking remarks about the new ODI powerplay rules, which were implemented back in 2015. Ravichandran Ashwin said that the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) changes were intended to curb India’s dominance on the world stage.

The ICC introduced the two-new-ball rule from both ends in an innings. They mandated only four fielders be allowed outside the 30-yard circle in the middle overs. These changes proved challenging for spinners, as they had to bowl with a new ball and one extra fielder inside the circle.

India’s Dominance With Spin Was Choking World Cricket – Ravichandran Ashwin

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Ravichandran Ashwin recalled that India was the strongest side in ODI cricket during 2013-14. Ashwin highlighted that the changes in ODI cricket rules shifted the balance in favor of the batting team.

“Team India were dominating ODI cricket in the period during 2013-14. One of the main reasons for that was we did not have 5 fielders inside the circle rule and the two new balls rule. I somewhere feel India’s dominance with spin was choking world cricket,” Ashwin said.

“(Ravindra) Jadeja and I were the two spinners at that time. Yuvraj (Singh) and Yusuf (Pathan) used to chip in with some overs. With four fielders inside the circle, it was very difficult to get away in the middle overs.

“But then they implemented the two new balls rule and all brought the 5 fielders inside the circle rule. Once they did that, the 240-250-260 games disappeared,” he added.

KL Rahul Is Slowly Mastering His Role Perfectly – Ravichandran Ashwin

The 36-year-old emphasized that KL Rahul provides stability to the team in the middle order and is gradually mastering his role in ODI cricket. Ashwin said that batting in the middle order is a challenging task, citing MS Dhoni as an example of someone who excelled in that role.

“That’s why batting in the middle order is really difficult. MS Dhoni nailed that art. I am not comparing MS Dhoni and KL Rahul at all. But I feel he is slowly mastering his role perfectly,” he concluded.

Also read: IND vs BAN: “Axar Patel Is Not On Par With Ravindra Jadeja And Ravichandran Ashwin” – Salman Butt