IND vs IRE: "So Elegant Like Prabhu Deva’s Dance Moves" - Ravichandran Ashwin's Ultimate Praise For Ruturaj Gaikwad

The senior India National Cricket Team off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin recently showered rich praise on the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) duo of Shivam Dube and Ruturaj Gaikwad.

Both Dube and Gaikwad are currently in Ireland for a short three-match T20I series. Although Gaikwad has not played many international matches, he has remained close to India’s setup for a long period of time. Dube, on the other hand, got his India recall for the Asian Games 2023 and the Ireland T20Is after his heroics for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

In a video shared on his official YouTube channel, Ravichandran Ashwin said that Dube is a good addition to the playing XI in Hardik Pandya’s absence as he can finish the games with his power-hitting and can bowl too. He added India have a great trio of finishers in Dube, Rinku Singh, and Jitesh Sharma.

“Shivam Dube did really well in the recently concluded Deodhar Trophy too. In Hardik Pandya’s absence, we have yet another player in the finishing role. If you need a player for the finishing role who can bat and bowl a bit,” he said.

“We have got three multi-utility players in this series in Jitesh Sharma. We should consider a keeper as an all-rounder in Jitesh Sharma. A keeper who can finish. Rinku can also bowl a bit. He fields exceptionally well. We have a left-hand finisher in him. Shivam Dube is another left-hand finisher and is a dominant hitter of spin bowling.”

He was born to make batting look easy – Ravichandran Ashwin on Ruturaj Gaikwad

Ashwin further lauded Gaikwad’s elegant batting technique and compared it to Prabhu Deva’s dance moves. Notably, Prabhu Deva is an Indian dance choreographer, film director, producer, and actor. He also said that Gaikwad makes batting look very easy.

“On the other note, double dhamaka for all CSK fans out there. They keep saying, ‘Rutu is a world-class player.’ Of course, Rutu is a world-class player, agreed. I watched Rutu’s batting practice every single day during the West Indies tour, guys. He is in an extraordinary position. I don’t even know how to explain it. He has got the initial movement.”

“So elegant like Prabhu Deva’s dance moves. His left-hand moves beautifully while playing the ball. I always say that top-hand control for a batter is most important. His top hand works beautifully like that of a goldsmith. His batting and everything about him is a design. He was born to make batting look easy,” Ravichandran Ashwin.

Gaikwad and Dube will be seen in action when India will take on Ireland in the second T20I at the Malahide, Dublin on Sunday, August 20.