It’s the summer of 2020. The Delhi Capitals are playing their first game of the IPL season. Loyal fans are glued to their TVs in anticipation that their favourite team can go on to repeat the good show they put up in 2019, or even one-up those performances. The line-up looks different though. Literally and figuratively, there’s another big name in the mix. A name that wasn’t there before, but it’s a name that Delhi fans are more than pleased to see – Ravichandran Ashwin.
“I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Ravichandran Ashwin to the Delhi Capitals family,” said Parth Jindal, co-owner of the Capitals. “He’s easily one of the best and most experienced spinners around, with a tremendous record in India and IPL colours. There’s no doubt in my mind that Ashwin’s presence will benefit our team tremendously, as we eye the big prize – the IPL title.”
Our management couldn’t be happier to have him ply his trade in the Capitals’ blue this season. And why shouldn’t they be ecstatic with the signing? Make no mistake; Ash is one of IPL’s legends.
Coming in as a confident youngster in the second edition of the tournament, Ashwin registered figures of 2/13 in his first outing with the ball for his home side, the Chennai Super Kings. The world sat up and took notice. There was something about him.
MS Dhoni, as he so often does with players, soon found an out-of-the-box role for Ashwin where he went on to establish himself with aplomb. The role? Bowling with the new ball in the powerplay to some of the biggest hitters of the cricket ball.
Ravichandran Ashwin was an absolutely vital cog in the Super Kings squad of 2010 and 2011 when they went on to win back-to-back IPL titles and a CLT20 title. In 2010, Ashwin bagged 13 wickets each in the IPL and the CLT20, with miserly economy rates.
The 2011 season saw Ashwin claiming 20 wickets at an economy of 6.15. The 3-fer in the 2011 final was probably his best display with the ball in the league. Gayle had been smashing it to all parts that year. It took Ashwin all of three balls to Gayle in the first over to set up the big man and dismiss him.
"My plan was not to give him any pace as everybody knows what Gayle can do with it. Lack of pace meant that he had to use his feet and mind,” said Ashwin after the game. Oh, what we wouldn’t give to see one of those Ashwin vs Gayle battles again. This time, with Ashwin in Capitals’ colours!
When you pull out Ashwin’s IPL stats over the decade, what stands out is the unbelievable consistency. Since 2010, Ashwin has never failed to scalp 10 or more wickets in a season and his economy has always hovered around the 6s and 7s. In the ten editions Ashwin has played, only once has his economy rate for the season exceeded 8. Still very good in T20s, but it wasn’t as good as the standards Ashwin has always set for himself.
Since then, Ashwin has been constantly reinventing himself and adding more variations to his armoury – newer versions of the carom ball, the leg-spin, the round-arm delivery, you name it!
Ashwin once said, “Spin bowling is like a software, if you don't try and upgrade it, you will fall by the wayside.” Spoken like a true IT engineer!
Head Coach of Delhi Capitals and one of the sport’s all-time legends, Ricky Ponting reckons that Ashwin will be particularly potent at our home ground. “It is no secret that the pitch on our home ground is on the slower side, and is known to assist spinners. I believe, Ashwin, with his clever bowling, will have a tremendous impact when he bowls on it,” said Ponting.
All those tricks, all those variations and all that experience is heading to Qila Kotla in the summer of 2020, and we can’t contain our excitement. Kyuki jab tak Ravi-Chand rahega, Ashwin wicket lete rahega.
It’s the summer of 2020. The Delhi Capitals are playing their first game of the IPL season. Loyal fans are glued to their TVs in anticipation that their favourite team can go on to repeat the good show they put up in 2019, or even one-up those performances. The line-up looks different though. Literally and figuratively, there’s another big name in the mix. A name that wasn’t there before, but it’s a name that Delhi fans are more than pleased to see – Ravichandran Ashwin.
“I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Ravichandran Ashwin to the Delhi Capitals family,” said Parth Jindal, co-owner of the Capitals. “He’s easily one of the best and most experienced spinners around, with a tremendous record in India and IPL colours. There’s no doubt in my mind that Ashwin’s presence will benefit our team tremendously, as we eye the big prize – the IPL title.”
Our management couldn’t be happier to have him ply his trade in the Capitals’ blue this season. And why shouldn’t they be ecstatic with the signing? Make no mistake; Ash is one of IPL’s legends.
Coming in as a confident youngster in the second edition of the tournament, Ashwin registered figures of 2/13 in his first outing with the ball for his home side, the Chennai Super Kings. The world sat up and took notice. There was something about him.
MS Dhoni, as he so often does with players, soon found an out-of-the-box role for Ashwin where he went on to establish himself with aplomb. The role? Bowling with the new ball in the powerplay to some of the biggest hitters of the cricket ball.
Ravichandran Ashwin was an absolutely vital cog in the Super Kings squad of 2010 and 2011 when they went on to win back-to-back IPL titles and a CLT20 title. In 2010, Ashwin bagged 13 wickets each in the IPL and the CLT20, with miserly economy rates.
The 2011 season saw Ashwin claiming 20 wickets at an economy of 6.15. The 3-fer in the 2011 final was probably his best display with the ball in the league. Gayle had been smashing it to all parts that year. It took Ashwin all of three balls to Gayle in the first over to set up the big man and dismiss him.
"My plan was not to give him any pace as everybody knows what Gayle can do with it. Lack of pace meant that he had to use his feet and mind,” said Ashwin after the game. Oh, what we wouldn’t give to see one of those Ashwin vs Gayle battles again. This time, with Ashwin in Capitals’ colours!
When you pull out Ashwin’s IPL stats over the decade, what stands out is the unbelievable consistency. Since 2010, Ashwin has never failed to scalp 10 or more wickets in a season and his economy has always hovered around the 6s and 7s. In the ten editions Ashwin has played, only once has his economy rate for the season exceeded 8. Still very good in T20s, but it wasn’t as good as the standards Ashwin has always set for himself.
Since then, Ashwin has been constantly reinventing himself and adding more variations to his armoury – newer versions of the carom ball, the leg-spin, the round-arm delivery, you name it!
Ashwin once said, “Spin bowling is like a software, if you don't try and upgrade it, you will fall by the wayside.” Spoken like a true IT engineer!
Head Coach of Delhi Capitals and one of the sport’s all-time legends, Ricky Ponting reckons that Ashwin will be particularly potent at our home ground. “It is no secret that the pitch on our home ground is on the slower side, and is known to assist spinners. I believe, Ashwin, with his clever bowling, will have a tremendous impact when he bowls on it,” said Ponting.
All those tricks, all those variations and all that experience is heading to Qila Kotla in the summer of 2020, and we can’t contain our excitement. Kyuki jab tak Ravi-Chand rahega, Ashwin wicket lete rahega.
