The Two-Year Hiatus Will Increase CSK's Value Like It Did For Manchester United After Munich Air Disaster: R Aswhin

While many believe that Chennai Super Kings would have a hard time when they return to the Indian Premier League next season, their former bowling lynchpin Ravichandran Ashwin feels otherwise.

Super Kings are one of the most successful teams in the history of the league. The only team which has defended its IPL title so far, Chennai Super Kings have won the league twice-2010 and 2011 in addition to making it to the summit clash on four different occasions including the inaugural season. They have also won the now-scrapped Champions League T20 twice.

However, their highly successful journey halted for a couple of seasons when they along with inaugural champions Rajasthan Royals were suspended in 2015 after some of their owners were charged for corruption by the Supreme Court.

Not surprisingly, many feel that the Super Kings’ would struggle to reach the same heights again but Ashwin feels the two-year absence will only elevate the team’s stature. The lanky off-spinner compared his former team’s two-year absence with the Munich air disaster when 23 passengers died out of which 7 were Manchester United players. Another United player died at hospital few days later.

“I think the two-year hiatus for CSK probably increases its value much like what it did for Manchester United when the air crash happened (in 1958 when eight of their players died). I don’t know if it’s in the same league but surely people in Chennai and fans across the world are waiting for CSK to return. I hope it turns out to be a good comeback,” said Ashwin who was with the team for all the eight season where he picked up 120 wickets from 121 outings.

Ashwin was India’s best bowler in the home season, where he picked up 82 wickets in 13 Tests but he has struggled to replicate that performance in One-Day Internationals. After struggling with the ball in the Champions Trophy, he was seen experimenting with his bowling action during the recently-concluded series in West Indies.

Speaking about that he said:“Ever since I started, this is my 10th bowling action. I don’t think you should really ask me what the purpose behind it is. Probably, a year or two later we will be in a situation to sit and scrutinize as to whether it worked or not. Yes, I am open to change and you can just about expect anything from me.”

Ashwin, meanwhile, would look to get back to his best when India travels to Sri Lanka for a full-fledged series. The tour will start with a three-Test series where Ashwin will get a chance to enter the 300-club. The offs-spinner is only 25 wickets short of becoming only the fourth Indian bowler to take 300 wickets.