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

Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag said that off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin likes to resort to experimentation with his variations.

Ashwin has been added to India’s T20 World Cup squad, which came as a surprise to the cricket world as the Tamil Nadu player last played a T20I match in 2017 against West Indies.

However, the bowler has experience of playing in big events and off-spinner Washington Sundar’s finger injury paved the way for Ashwin in the T20 World Cup squad.

MS Dhoni never allowed Ravichandran Ashwin to experiment: Virender Sehwag

Sehwag is concerned that Ashwin tends to use variations rather than sticking to his off-spin bowling. Sehwag feels Ashwin is sceptical of being hit for big runs and hence he tries to experiment with other plans.

“Ravichandran Ashwin has a mindset that if he bowls off-spin, anyone will hit him for a four or a six. Because of this fear, he resorts to experimentation. When MS Dhoni used to be behind the wickets, he never allowed Ashwin to experiment,” Sehwag told Cricbuzz. 

“Sometimes you need to make a bowler realize that no doubt a batsman may hit you for a six but it also gives you a chance to get him out,” he added.

Ravichandran Ashwin should give breakthroughs in middle overs: Virender Sehwag

On Wednesday, 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.

Sehwag feels that Ashwin should get more breakthroughs in the middle overs.

“The way he was bowling, it gives him the least chance to dismiss a batsman. If he resorts to off-spin, then LBW, bowled comes into the equation. Yes, he was economical but as a senior bowler, he should give breakthroughs in the middle overs,” Sehwag mentioned. 

Delhi Capitals won against SRH by eight wickets and regain the top position on the points table with 14 points.

Also Read: India Needs To Find A Way To Fit Ravichandran Ashwin Into The XI- Ian Chappell