Ravichandran Ashwin Has To Try And Play All Forms Of The Game: Muttiah Muralitharan

Former Sri Lanka legend Muttiah Muralitharan has offered a piece of advice to Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. Ravichandran Ashwin is arguably the best off-spinner in Test cricket at present and is perhaps at the best phase of his career as he prepares for the Test series against England. But Muttiah Muralitharan feels the veteran should be featuring in all forms of cricket.

Even though Ravichandran Ashwin has delivered promising performances in his last few IPL outings, the selectors have not picked him for ODIs and T20Is. The 34-year old last played limited-overs internationals was back in 2016. Since then, India have mostly gone back to leg-spinners and preferred Ravindra Jadeja’s left-arm spin as he offers a more confident batting option.

Muttiah Muralitharan, who earlier backed Ravichandran Ashwin to break his record of 800 Test wickets, stated he rates him high as an off-spinner. The 49-year old recalled playing with him at the Chennai Super Kings and understands the challenges Ashwin has faced with his competitors.

“I rate him very high as an off-spinner because I played with him when he started at the Chennai Super Kings and he’s improved a lot. Sometimes because the pressure is there and India has plenty of spinners so that pressure has stayed. Then when he was starting, Harbhajan Singh was the king, Harbhajan fell off, then he has come. Now Jadeja is making a mark in Test cricket and Axar Patel has come,” Muralitharan told ESPN Cricinfo.

He is a great bowler and has taken a lot of wickets and he has 3-4 years of career still left: Muttiah Muralitharan

But Muttiah Muralitharan feels even though Ravi Ashwin faces pressure, he has grabbed plenty of wickets and still has some years ahead of him. However, Muralitharan suggests Ashwin to play all forms of cricket as his form can come down by playing only Tests. The 133-Test veteran reckons that featuring in all versions of cricket would enable Ashwin to keep learning and build confidence.

“So, that challenge is there. And the challenges and pressures are putting his place down because confidence is his boosting. But he is a great bowler and has taken a lot of wickets and he has 3-4 years of career still left. But he has to be confident and try to play all forms of the game. Because if you try to play only Test cricket, your form will come down because you are not going to play matches regularly. If you are playing forms, you keep on bowling in every form, keeping on learning. and the confidence builds. That’s what I think,” he added.

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