IPL 2021: I Think More Than About 6-8 Points Needs To Go To Shimron Hetmyer, Says Ravichandran Ashwin

Delhi Capitals bowling all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin heaped praise over West Indies batsman Shimron Hetmyer on Monday. Delhi Capitals beat Chennai Super Kings by three wickets at the Dubai International stadium to go at the top of the points table.

After winning the toss, Delhi Capitals skipper Rishabh Pant asked CSK to bat first, and his bowlers supported his decision as they restricted the opposition to 136/5 on a sluggish track.

Capitals spinners Axar Patel (2/18) and Ashwin (1/20) made the best use of the conditions in Dubai to restrict CSK for a moderate score of 136/5 in the first innings.

During the chase, the Capitals had a tough time as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals, but opener Shikhar Dhawan held the other end very firmly.

Dhawan scored 39 runs from 35 deliveries with the help of three fours and a couple of sixes before he holed out to Moeen Ali off Shardul Thakur’s bowling at the end of the 15th over.

Shimron Hetymer is one of those heroes for us: Ravichandran Ashwin

DC were 37 runs away from their victory with just four wickets left with them, and it was then when Hetmyer came to their rescue as the southpaw 28 runs off 12 balls to finish the game in the final over.

Hetmyer smacked Josh Hazlewood for a six over deep backward square leg to bring down the equation to run-a-ball six in the final over.

Ashwin, who was sent to bat ahead of Hetmyer, credited the destructive West Indies batter for his heroics against CSK.

“I think more than about 6-8 points needs to go to Hety (Hetmyer), because he has finished games, sometimes when you make those 25s and 30s, you don’t quite get the recognition you must, because people are at the top are making the volume of runs,” Ashwin said at the virtual post-match press conference.

“So Hetymer is one of those heroes for us and inside that dressing room, we recognise all these efforts, so yeah, he is in a good space,” he added.

I was probably not ready for the ball: Ravichandran Ashwin

Ashwin couldn’t contribute enough with the bat after he was promoted up the order during the chase as he was bowled by Shardul Thakur with a nip-backer.

Ashwin’s promotion was made because of the way he finished against Mumbai Indians in his previous game, but the Tamil Nadu player admitted that he was a little late to play his dismissal ball.

“I have been batting well and there was a lot of confidence from what happened in the last game, I was a little late, I was probably not ready for the ball and a little late on the ball and didn’t expect sort of delivery from him and could have done better, yeah I will learn and move on from it,” Ashwin admitted. 

Delhi Capitals will play their last match against Royal Challengers Bangalore on October 8 at the Dubai International Stadium.

Also Read: IPL 2021: Shreyas Iyer Reveals What Ravichandran Ashwin Told Him During The Game Against Mumbai Indians