IPL 2020: Sachin Tendulkar Questions The Under-Utilization Of Murugan Ashwin By KXIP Against Rajasthan Royals

Former Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar was quite active in the social media yesterday, reacting to Kings XI Punjab’s Nicholas Pooran’s brilliance on the field against Rajasthan Royals last night in the ninth match of IPL 2020. Sachin Tendulkar went on to praise Rajasthan Royals for their scintillating batting display to chase down a daunting 224 with four wickets to spare. However, the legend questioned Punjab captain KL Rahul’s failure of not using Murugan Ashwin enough.

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The match took a massive turn in the 17th over when Rahul Tewatia hammered Sheldon Cottrell for five sixes in an over to reduce the equation to 21 off 12 deliveries. Rajasthan Royals remained very much behind in the game at one stage when Tewatia was struggling to connect the ball against the spinners and James Neesham, leaving them needing 84 in 30 balls. Half-centuries by skipper Steve Smith and Sanju Samson laid the foundation before Tewatia ran riot.

Kings XI Punjab lost only two wickets after Smith put them to bat in what was Rajasthan’s second game of IPL 2020. Captain KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal built a stand of 183 for the opening wicket as the latter muscled his way to a maiden IPL hundred. The likes of Nicholas Pooran and Glenn Maxwell applied the finishing touches to help themselves to a total, that was considered as a winning one.

Sachin Tendulkar points out where Kings XI Punjab bowlers went wrong:

Sachin Tendulkar took to his official Twitter handle and began by praising Steve Smith, Sanju Samson, and Rahul Tewatia, all of who struck half-centuries to record the highest run-chase in IPL 2020. He felt surprised at Punjab bowlers not bowling yorkers and under-utilizing leg-spinner Murugan Ashwin, who took three wickets against Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Murugan Ashwin bowled only one over, going for 12 runs before bowling the 20th. By the time, Ashwin came for his second over, Rajasthan needed only a couple of runs. He did take the wicket of Riyan Parag; however, Tom Curran lofted the next ball to the cover region for a boundary. Sanju Samson’s 85 off 42 deliveries earned him the man of the match award.

Terrific batting by @rajasthanroyals’ batsmen Smith, Sanju & Tewatia to chase this mega total.

They kept their cool and accelerated beautifully.

Surprised how the @lionsdenkxip fast bowlers didn’t bowl many yorkers and also failed to use M Ashwin enough. #RRvKXIP #IPL2020 pic.twitter.com/f52wF11uig

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) September 27, 2020