Not Yuzvendra Chahal or Trent Boult!! Ravichandran Ashwin names this teammate among the top 5 greatest bowlers in IPL history

Rajasthan Royals (RR) off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin praised Sandeep Sharma following his team’s victory against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Ravichandran Ashwin described Sandeep Sharma as an unsung hero who consistently delivers under pressure.

Rajasthan Royals began their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 campaign with a 20-run victory at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Sunday, March 24. Sandeep Sharma played a pivotal role with the ball in defending the target of 193 runs on their home ground.

Sandeep Sharma Does The Dirty Work For Us – Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin emphasized Sandeep Sharma’s contributions to the team, describing him as a top-tier bowler in the IPL. The veteran off-spinner noted Sandeep’s effective performance in the death overs during the previous IPL season.

“The game is built by perceptions, if you look at the way Sandy has bowled, he has been a top-5 bowler in the IPL. He’s a character, he does the dirty work for us, and did a lot to cover for Prasidh in the last season as well. I see him as a fighter,” Ashwin said.

Sandeep Sharma entered to bowl in the crucial 15th over with the match finely poised. He executed his strategy well, dismissing KL Rahul in his second over. This breakthrough played a significant role in his team’s thrilling victory in the IPL 2024 encounter.

Sandeep Sharma showcased his skill and conceded only 22 runs in his three overs. He conceded 11 runs in the 19th over, leaving Avesh Khan to defend 27 runs in the final over. Avesh excelled with his wide yorkers, meeting the expectations by allowing just six runs.

Sanju Samson And Riyan Batted Really Well – Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin acknowledged the significant contributions of Sanju Samson and Riyan Parag. He stated that the team fell slightly short by about 10 runs, especially considering the batting prowess of players like Shimron Hetmyer and Dhruv Jurel in the lineup.

“Sanju and Riyan batted really well. But I felt we were 10 runs short, with so many impact players coming up in the form of Hetmyer and Jurel,” Ashwin noted.

Sanju Samson scored unbeaten on 82 runs, with the help of three boundaries and six maximums. Riyan Parag contributed 43 runs from 29 balls, featuring a boundary and three sixes. The inaugural edition champions posted a formidable total of 193 runs in 20 overs.

I’m In A Good Mental And Physical Space

Ashwin emphasized the need for a different approach, particularly transitioning from Test cricket. Despite the challenges, Ashwin expressed confidence in his current mental and physical state.

“I think it was a wicket of two halves. I went for 12 off the first two balls… it needs a different mindset, having come from Test cricket. I’m in a good mental and physical space at the moment though,” Ashwin further stated.

The Tamil Nadu-born cricketer conceded 35 runs in his allocated four overs, claiming the wicket of Marcus Stoinis. The Jaipur-based team successfully defended the total, restricting KL Rahul’s LSG to 173 runs from 20 overs.

The Sanju Samson-led team will face the Delhi Capitals (DC) in their next match at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Thursday, March 28.

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