The Indian Premier League (IPL) has meant different things to different individuals. It has been a burden for busy international players or a finishing school for emerging cricketers. Going into the second half of the 2021 IPL, which begins on Sunday in the UAE, will be more of a springboard for Ravichandran Ashwin.
He'll join the Delhi Capitals (DC) fresh after being controversially left out of the England Test series. Even after the team went up 2-1, the question of "Why no Ashwin?" persisted. That was just a recognition of the spinner's abilities, which he had previously displayed in the historic Test series triumph in Australia and then in the home series against England this year, when India came back from losing the first Test to win the series.
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With variety, talent, and confidence in execution, he made an impression in the 2009 IPL for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), adding a new dimension to a batsman-dominated game. The major alternative weapon was the carrom ball, although the leg-spin or even the googly were not far behind. It meant that the batters couldn't take too many risks.
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Ashwin, a great T20 bowler, has a cult following among teams. He's continually reinvented himself to surprise batters, and he's also used those clever change-ups in Tests.
Any other 34-year-old player could be feeling rusty after not playing since the World Test Championship final against New Zealand in June. The lack of trust shown by the team management in India's fourth best wicket-taker may have been demoralising as well. However, in order to make his mark, the Tamil Nadu bowler has frequently shut out any negativity.
At last week's team announcement, top selector and former India bowler Chetan Sharma stated, "When you go to a World Cup, you need an off-spinner.Because the IPL's later half will be played in the UAE, the wickets are anticipated to be low and sluggish, which will benefit the spinners". Ashwin has been a valuable member of the squad, and his performance in the IPL is the reason he has been retained.”
Ashwin's participation was made feasible by a number of factors, and he will be eager to impress in the IPL, which will be held at the same locations as the global tournament. Rohit Sharma, who has guided Mumbai Indians to five IPL victories, is believed to have backed Ashwin's comeback, and MS Dhoni's appointment as team mentor—Ashwin was a part of two of Dhoni's three ICC trophy wins—also should help.