IPL 2021: Ravichandran Ashwin Should Have Bowled Test Match-Type Bowling Against SRH: Gautam Gambhir

Former Kolkata Knight Riders captain Gautam Gambhir was left disappointed with spin bowler Ravichandran Ashwin for not bowling enough off-spin deliveries.

Ashwin, who yesterday played a competitive game after a span of four months, wasn’t played in the Test series against England.

Ashwin bowled 2.5 overs against Sunrisers Hyderabad and conceded 22 runs at an economy rate of 7.80 but was unable to get a wicket.

There was one instance where he found the outside edge of SRH skipper Kane Williamson but it was dropped by wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant to which the bowler seemed exasperated.

It is necessary for Ravichandran Ashwin to first understand that he is an off-spinner: Gautam Gambhir

Gambhir feels that Ashwin should use more off-spin balls and reminded him that he is a great off-spinner.

“He is currently the best off-spinner in the world but he didn’t bowl off-spin at all. It is necessary for him to first understand that he is an off-spinner. It was an ideal situation for him where the opposition was three or four down.”

“There is no doubt that you have not played cricket for a long time, you didn’t play the four Tests and the match pressure is completely different, whichever format it might be, you should have bowled your traditional off-spin until you were hit for a six,” Gambhir told Star Sports. 

Ravichandran Ashwin can get wickets by bowling off-spin: Gautam Gambhir

Ashwin is one of the best Test spinners in the world and holds a good track record in Test cricket in the subcontinent. Gambhir felt that the Tamil Nadu spinner could have bowled his Test match bowling against SRH.

“You should have bowled the Test match-type bowling and got back your rhythm and feel. Whether it is batting or bowling, everything is about the feel. We saw the knuckle ball at the start itself. The entire world knows that you have variation of all types, you can bowl the googly, leg-spin, knuckle ball but you are still an off-spinner.”

“You can get wickets with off-spin also. It is not necessary that it is T20 cricket or white ball, so you have to show your variations. He disappointed me a little from that point of view but I am sure that going forward he will bowl more off-spin because he is a world-class bowler.”

Ashwin has picked only one wicket from six matches in IPL 2021 so far.

Also Read: Ravichandran Ashwin Has A Mindset That If He Bowls Off-Spin, Anyone Will Hit Him Big Shots: Virender Sehwag