'Won't be in my team': Sehwag on Ashwin's lack of wickets; says RR star might go unsold in IPL 2025 auction

R Ashwin's IPL team Rajasthan Royals (RR) is finally high in the 2024 edition. The Sanju Samson-led RR franchise are at the top of the points table with 16 points from nine games, having won eight of them. However, Ashwin's form is a cause of concern for the one-time winners. The Royals spinner has only claimed two wickets in nine games, at an economy rate of 9. Despite his struggles, the wily off-spinner recently stated that taking wickets in T20s are irrelevant. Following his statement, former Indian opener Virender Sehwag slammed Ashwin and feels that the offie might go unsold in the IPL 2025 mega auction.

In response to Ashwin's remark, Sehwag slammed the Indian spinner'sapproach to bowling in T20s, comparing hisstatement with KL Rahul's controversial remark where he downplayed the significance of strike rates.

Talking toCricbuzz, Sehwag said, "This is the same as when KL Rahul had said that the strike rate doesn't matter. Same thing. He said it for batting, Ashwin has said it for bowling that it doesn't matter if you get the wickets. If his stats aren't good, then he may not even get picked in the auction next year. When you pick a bowler, do you expect him to give away 25-30 runs or do you expect him to give you wickets and become man of the match twice or thrice?"

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Sehwag further added,"All his competitors - Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav or anyone else - are getting the wickets. He thinks if he bowls off spin then anyone will hit him. Which is why he bowls his carrom bowl, which is why he is not getting any wickets. Maybe if he believes in his off spin or doosra, he can bag more wickets. But that's his mindset. But if I were a mentor or a coach of a franchise, I wouldn't think like that. If my bowler is thinking about saving runs and not taking wickets, he won't find a place in the team."

Ashwin has so far had an ordinary run in IPL 2024. Being an integral part of the RR lineup, he will be desperate to be among wickets as the tournament has now reached the business end. For Royals, they next play the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Hyderabad on Thursday (May 2).