Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin sounded unhappy with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s demotion to number three in the recently concluded second T20I in Christchurch. Usually an opener, the teen batting prodigy returned to the T20I side as an injury replacement for Ishan Kishan, and looked like a pale shadow of himself. The left-hander departed for just four off eight balls, leaving India in a dicey spot during the game, but importantly looked out of sorts. &nbsp;Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma opened the innings, with Vaibhav walking in at number three in the sixth over. Although his brief stay at the crease raised questions over his dip in confidence and shot selection, Ashwin decided not to quickly judge his performance negatively.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-nz-2nd-t20i-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-fails-top-order-collapse-70-5-1792836589238">Sooryavanshi fails to fire on India comeback as top-order struggles in 2nd T20I</a> &nbsp;"That is a miss. For a young cricketer like Vaibhav, 'miss' is too early, I think, to say, but because I have only two options of a hit or a miss, he just found himself a little like a fish out of water. He kept going hard, kept going hard for the eight balls," he said.&nbsp; &nbsp;Ashwin said Sooryavanshi needed guidance from seasoned batters while settling into a new batting position, adding that a senior player could have helped him stay calm and focused on the game. &nbsp;"It did not feel like he was ever timing the ball, and that is when you need a senior partner to walk down to him and say, 'Calm down, just hang in there, look to play close to your body, watch the ball better.' Sometimes, as a batter, all you need to be told is to watch the ball closer. You do miss that in all the action that happens around you. So, I just felt like he was a fish out of water. Walking in during the sixth over is not his cup of tea," he explained.<h3>Samson Should have Batted at 3</h3>Ashwin said in a case where India is playing three openers, Samson, being the most experienced of the three, should have batted at number three and let Abhishek Sharma and Sooryavanshi take up the opening slot. &nbsp;"Look, I think they played this combination before, and Sanju had to skip down to number three. If they are going to go with this combination, I am not too sure Vaibhav has got to bat at number three, but it is what it is. Today it was a miss for Vaibhav," Ashwin added. &nbsp;Meanwhile, Tilak Varma’s unbeaten 51 off 26 balls and handy contributions from all-rounders Naman Dhir and Nitish Kumar Reddy saw India complete an improbable run chase and take a 2-0 lead in this five-match T20I series.&nbsp;

Ashwin questions Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s No. 3 role in the 2nd T20I vs NZ, suggesting Sanju Samson should have batted lower to let the teen open.

Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin sounded unhappy with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s demotion to number three in the recently concluded second T20I in Christchurch. Usually an opener, the teen batting prodigy returned to the T20I side as an injury replacement for Ishan Kishan, and looked like a pale shadow of himself. The left-hander departed for just four off eight balls, leaving India in a dicey spot during the game, but importantly looked out of sorts. Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma opened the innings, with Vaibhav walking in at number three in the sixth over. Although his brief stay at the crease raised questions over his dip in confidence and shot selection, Ashwin decided not to quickly judge his performance negatively. Also read| Sooryavanshi fails to fire on India comeback as top-order struggles in 2nd T20I "That is a miss. For a young cricketer like Vaibhav, 'miss' is too early, I think, to say, but because I have only two options of a hit or a miss, he just found himself a little like a fish out of water. He kept going hard, kept going hard for the eight balls," he said. Ashwin said Sooryavanshi needed guidance from seasoned batters while settling into a new batting position, adding that a senior player could have helped him stay calm and focused on the game. "It did not feel like he was ever timing the ball, and that is when you need a senior partner to walk down to him and say, 'Calm down, just hang in there, look to play close to your body, watch the ball better.' Sometimes, as a batter, all you need to be told is to watch the ball closer. You do miss that in all the action that happens around you. So, I just felt like he was a fish out of water. Walking in during the sixth over is not his cup of tea," he explained. Samson Should have Batted at 3 Ashwin said in a case where India is playing three openers, Samson, being the most experienced of the three, should have batted at number three and let Abhishek Sharma and Sooryavanshi take up the opening slot. "Look, I think they played this combination before, and Sanju had to skip down to number three. If they are going to go with this combination, I am not too sure Vaibhav has got to bat at number three, but it is what it is. Today it was a miss for Vaibhav," Ashwin added. Meanwhile, Tilak Varma’s unbeaten 51 off 26 balls and handy contributions from all-rounders Naman Dhir and Nitish Kumar Reddy saw India complete an improbable run chase and take a 2-0 lead in this five-match T20I series.

Ashwin questions Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s No. 3 role in the 2nd T20I vs NZ, suggesting Sanju Samson should have batted lower to let the teen open.

‘That is a miss’: Ravi Ashwin questions Sooryavanshi’s demotion to No. 3 in 2nd T20I vs NZ

From Ravindra Jadeja to Kuldeep Yadav, here's a look at the top five Indian spinners with most international wickets. This list also includes Anil Kumble, Ravichandran Ashwin and Harbhajan Singh

From Ravindra Jadeja to Kuldeep Yadav, here's a look at the top five Indian spinners with most international wickets. This list also includes Anil Kumble, Ravichandran Ashwin and Harbhajan Singh

Meet top 5 Indian spinners with most international wickets

From Muttiah Muralitharan to Anil Kumble, here's a look at the top five spinners with most wickets in international cricket. This list also includes Shane Warne, Ravichandran Ashwin and Shakib Al Hasan

From Muttiah Muralitharan to Anil Kumble, here's a look at the top five spinners with most wickets in international cricket. This list also includes Shane Warne, Ravichandran Ashwin and Shakib Al Hasan

Meet top 5 spinners with most international wickets

Prince Yadav returned to the Indian team for the 3rd T20I against the West Indies in Indore and helped them take a 2-1 lead in this series, but not with the ball. Surprisingly, his late blitz with the bat (13* off 6) in the final over equalled a 15-year-old record held by former spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.&nbsp;Walking out to bat at number 10 in the penultimate over, the right-handed batter Prince took on Shamar Joseph in the final over by hitting him for three fours, which eventually proved vital as India won by 14 runs.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-wi-3rd-t20i-abhishek-sharma-smashes-18-ball-fifty-sets-record-for-fastest-to-2-000-t20i-runs-1791729948256">IND vs WI, 3rd T20I: Abhishek Sharma smashes 18-ball fifty, sets record for fastest to 2,000 T20I runs</a>&nbsp;With that, Prince equalled Ashwin’s record for hitting at least three boundaries in an over by an Indian No. 10 or 11 batter in T20Is. Overall, he became the third Indian bowler to achieve this feat after S Sreesanth (in 2007) and Ashwin (in 2011).&nbsp;WATCH VIDEO -

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Cheeky! Prince Yadav's crucial late flourish 👏

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https://t.co/JFziypMEF9&mdash; BCCI (@BCCI) <a href="https://x.com/BCCI/status/2109307846164988191?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 11, 2026</a></blockquote>
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While Sreesanth first made headlines for taking the attack to the opposition (New Zealand) during their 2007 T20 World Cup face-off, Ashwin scored three fours against England during the Kolkata T20I in 2011.&nbsp;Prince’s contribution with the bat impressed his team captain Shreyas Iyer, who lauded him in the post-match presser.&nbsp;“We never let West Indies take on the charge, even though we kept on losing wickets. We steadied the ship in the middle order as well. That took us to a commendable total of 223. Even Prince coming and playing that cameo at the end - those were useful runs, I felt,” Iyer said.<h3>Prince went wicketless, But India Win in Indore</h3>Replacing Kuldeep Yadav in the playing XI for the third T20I, Prince went wicketless in his four overs for 37. Mayank Yadav, who starred with the ball in Ranchi T20I with three wickets, also did not pick up any wickets.&nbsp;Arshdeep Singh was the Player of the Match for his 3/44, including Shai Hope’s wicket early inside the Powerplay.&nbsp;Hyderabad will host the fourth T20I on Wednesday (Oct 14).

Prince Yadav’s late 13* off 6 balls in the final over against West Indies in Indore equalled a 15-year-old T20I record held by Ravichandran Ashwin, helping India take a 2-1 series lead.

Prince Yadav returned to the Indian team for the 3rd T20I against the West Indies in Indore and helped them take a 2-1 lead in this series, but not with the ball. Surprisingly, his late blitz with the bat (13* off 6) in the final over equalled a 15-year-old record held by former spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. Walking out to bat at number 10 in the penultimate over, the right-handed batter Prince took on Shamar Joseph in the final over by hitting him for three fours, which eventually proved vital as India won by 14 runs. Also read| IND vs WI, 3rd T20I: Abhishek Sharma smashes 18-ball fifty, sets record for fastest to 2,000 T20I runs With that, Prince equalled Ashwin’s record for hitting at least three boundaries in an over by an Indian No. 10 or 11 batter in T20Is. Overall, he became the third Indian bowler to achieve this feat after S Sreesanth (in 2007) and Ashwin (in 2011). WATCH VIDEO -

Prince Yadav’s late 13* off 6 balls in the final over against West Indies in Indore equalled a 15-year-old T20I record held by Ravichandran Ashwin, helping India take a 2-1 series lead.

Prince Yadav’s late blitz with bat equals 15-year-old T20I record in India’s Indore win

From Ravindra Jadeja to Ravichandran Ashwin, here's a look at the five Indian bowlers fastest to 300 Test wickets. This list also includes Kapil Dev, Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh

From Ravindra Jadeja to Ravichandran Ashwin, here's a look at the five Indian bowlers fastest to 300 Test wickets. This list also includes Kapil Dev, Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh

Meet top 5 Indian bowlers fastest to 300 Test wickets

From Muttiah Muralitharan to Malcolm Marshall, here's a look at top five bowlers fastest to take 300 wickets in Test cricket. This list also includes Ravichandran Ashwin, Dennis Lillee and Richard Hadlee

From Muttiah Muralitharan to Malcolm Marshall, here's a look at top five bowlers fastest to take 300 wickets in Test cricket. This list also includes Ravichandran Ashwin, Dennis Lillee and Richard Hadlee

Meet top 5 bowlers fastest to 300 Test wickets

From Ravindra Jadeja to Jasprit Bumrah, here's a look at the top five Indian bowlers fastest to 150 Test wickets. This list also includes Ravichandran Ashwin, Erapalli Prasanna and Anil Kumble

From Ravindra Jadeja to Jasprit Bumrah, here's a look at the top five Indian bowlers fastest to 150 Test wickets. This list also includes Ravichandran Ashwin, Erapalli Prasanna and Anil Kumble

Meet top 5 Indian bowlers fastest to 150 Test wickets

From Dale Steyn to Allan Donald, here's a look at the top five bowlers fastest to 250 wickets in Test cricket. This list also includes Ravichandran Ashwin, Dennis Lillee and Waqar Younis

From Dale Steyn to Allan Donald, here's a look at the top five bowlers fastest to 250 wickets in Test cricket. This list also includes Ravichandran Ashwin, Dennis Lillee and Waqar Younis

Meet top 5 bowlers fastest to 250 Test wickets

From Waqar Younis to Ravichandran Ashwin, here's a look at the top five bowlers fastest to take 200 wickets in Test cricket. This list also includes Yasir Shah, Clarrie Grimmett and Dennis Lillee

From Waqar Younis to Ravichandran Ashwin, here's a look at the top five bowlers fastest to take 200 wickets in Test cricket. This list also includes Yasir Shah, Clarrie Grimmett and Dennis Lillee

From Waqar Younis to Ravichandran Ashwin, 5 bowlers fastest to 200 Test wickets

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has backed Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) as the favourites heading into the IPL 2026 final, even though Gujarat Titans (GT) will enjoy the advantage of playing at their home venue in Ahmedabad. The defending champions are set to face GT in Sunday’s title clash, with both teams aiming to secure their second IPL trophy.&nbsp;Ashwin pointed to RCB’s fearless and aggressive style of play as a major reason behind their success this season and also lauded experienced campaigners Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Krunal Pandya for their valuable contributions in crucial moments. According to Ashwin, GT’s familiarity with home conditions remains their biggest advantage, but overall, RCB appear to be the stronger and more balanced side.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/who-is-kushal-bhurtel-nepal-cricketer-recreates-yuvraj-singh-like-six-hitting-feat-vs-china-1780216450635">Who is Kushal Bhurtel? Nepal batter recreates Yuvraj Singh-like six-hitting feat</a>&nbsp;He stressed that RCB should continue playing the attacking style of cricket that has brought them success throughout the tournament, irrespective of whether they bat or bowl first.&nbsp;&nbsp;"The fact that GT are playing at their home ground, and that they've dominated there and made it a fortress, is something that's really going to give them that extra fillip going into the final. The two teams have very contrasting approaches. RCB have been willing to take that extra risk. They have a team with a few fighters in Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Krunal Pandya, who have turned up the heat this season. GT's home ground and their familiarity with those conditions are the last piece of the puzzle standing between RCB and a second title. For RCB, it doesn't matter whether they bat or bowl first, it is their final to lose. They are going in as the favourites. Whatever they do, they must not regress or play any less attacking cricket than they have throughout the season," Ashwin said on JioHotstar.&nbsp;While RCB are looking to successfully defend the IPL title they won last season, Gujarat Titans will be chasing their second championship after their memorable triumph in 2022.&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

Former India player Ravichandran Ashwin has backed Royal Challengers Bengaluru as strong favourites for the IPL 2026 final, stating that only their own mistakes can cost them the title.

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has backed Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) as the favourites heading into the IPL 2026 final, even though Gujarat Titans (GT) will enjoy the advantage of playing at their home venue in Ahmedabad. The defending champions are set to face GT in Sunday’s title clash, with both teams aiming to secure their second IPL trophy. Ashwin pointed to RCB’s fearless and aggressive style of play as a major reason behind their success this season and also lauded experienced campaigners Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Krunal Pandya for their valuable contributions in crucial moments. According to Ashwin, GT’s familiarity with home conditions remains their biggest advantage, but overall, RCB appear to be the stronger and more balanced side. Also Read - Who is Kushal Bhurtel? Nepal batter recreates Yuvraj Singh-like six-hitting feat He stressed that RCB should continue playing the attacking style of cricket that has brought them success throughout the tournament, irrespective of whether they bat or bowl first. "The fact that GT are playing at their home ground, and that they've dominated there and made it a fortress, is something that's really going to give them that extra fillip going into the final. The two teams have very contrasting approaches. RCB have been willing to take that extra risk. They have a team with a few fighters in Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Krunal Pandya, who have turned up the heat this season. GT's home ground and their familiarity with those conditions are the last piece of the puzzle standing between RCB and a second title. For RCB, it doesn't matter whether they bat or bowl first, it is their final to lose. They are going in as the favourites. Whatever they do, they must not regress or play any less attacking cricket than they have throughout the season," Ashwin said on JioHotstar. While RCB are looking to successfully defend the IPL title they won last season, Gujarat Titans will be chasing their second championship after their memorable triumph in 2022. With inputs from agencies

Former India player Ravichandran Ashwin has backed Royal Challengers Bengaluru as strong favorites for the IPL 2026 final, stating that only their own mistakes can cost them the title.

'RCB going in as favourites': Ex-India star ahead of IPL 2026 final

From Dwayne Bravo to Ravichandran Ashwin, here's a look at the top five bowlers with most wickets in IPL playoffs. This list also includes Mohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja and Harbhajan Singh.

From Dwayne Bravo to Ravichandran Ashwin, here's a look at the top five bowlers with most wickets in IPL playoffs. This list also includes Mohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja and Harbhajan Singh.

Meet top 5 bowlers with most wickets in IPL playoffs

Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has shared that he might have continued playing longer for Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League, but ultimately stepped away because he no longer had the “bandwidth” to keep going in the tournament. Ashwin, who called time on his IPL career in August last year, spoke about CSK’s difficult run in the 2025 season. The five-time champions ended that campaign at the bottom of the table and have also begun IPL 2026 with three consecutive defeats.&nbsp;&nbsp;He further explained that even though he felt he could still play, he chose to step away so the team management wouldn’t have to worry about whether to keep him or not.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-sticking-with-bad-plan-and-nobody-to-slow-things-ex-player-on-reasons-for-csk-s-loss-vs-rcb-1775467932019">IPL 2026 | 'Sticking with bad plan and nobody to slow things': Ex-player Rayudu on reasons for CSK's loss vs RCB</a>&nbsp;“I am watching the match from a neutral point of view, but remember that I recently spent a disappointing season with CSK, it was a disappointing season for me personally as well. Honestly, in my mind, I could have played more, because emotionally, I just did not have the bandwidth to play”.&nbsp;“I don’t want to go there, it’s mentally disturbing. It was very painful for me. I don’t want to go there. I discussed a little, then I said, I started in Chennai, I am finishing in my hometown, it’s fine. I decided to retire myself as it would not have created a headache for them (the management) over whether to retain me or release. They would also save Rs 10 crore if I go. I am still disappointed. I had expectations, I had hope,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel “Ash Ki Baat”.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-want-my-bat-do-the-talking-rishabh-pant-silences-critics-after-match-winning-knock-against-srh-1775458991278">'Want my bat do talking': Pant silences critics after match-winning knock vs SRH</a>&nbsp;Reflecting on CSK’s recent loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, he noted that while he had expected RCB to win given their strength, he had hoped CSK would show signs of progress after their previous outing. Instead, he felt RCB delivered a dominant performance that sent a strong message to the rest of the competition.&nbsp;“I had expectations from today. I know, I picked RCB to win, because they have strength. But, I banked on the improvement that CSK showed in the last game. I had a little faith on the fact that RCB were coming into this match after a break. The way RCB played, they warned everyone,” he said.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will next face Delhi Capitals (DC) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday (Apr 11).

Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has shared that he might have continued playing longer for Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League, but ultimately stepped away because he no longer had the “bandwidth” to keep going in the tournament. Ashwin, who called time on his IPL career in August last year, spoke about CSK’s difficult run in the 2025 season. The five-time champions ended that campaign at the bottom of the table and have also begun IPL 2026 with three consecutive defeats. He further explained that even though he felt he could still play, he chose to step away so the team management wouldn’t have to worry about whether to keep him or not. Also Read - IPL 2026 | 'Sticking with bad plan and nobody to slow things': Ex-player Rayudu on reasons for CSK's loss vs RCB “I am watching the match from a neutral point of view, but remember that I recently spent a disappointing season with CSK, it was a disappointing season for me personally as well. Honestly, in my mind, I could have played more, because emotionally, I just did not have the bandwidth to play”. “I don’t want to go there, it’s mentally disturbing. It was very painful for me. I don’t want to go there. I discussed a little, then I said, I started in Chennai, I am finishing in my hometown, it’s fine. I decided to retire myself as it would not have created a headache for them (the management) over whether to retain me or release. They would also save Rs 10 crore if I go. I am still disappointed. I had expectations, I had hope,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel “Ash Ki Baat”. Also Read - 'Want my bat do talking': Pant silences critics after match-winning knock vs SRH Reflecting on CSK’s recent loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, he noted that while he had expected RCB to win given their strength, he had hoped CSK would show signs of progress after their previous outing. Instead, he felt RCB delivered a dominant performance that sent a strong message to the rest of the competition. “I had expectations from today. I know, I picked RCB to win, because they have strength. But, I banked on the improvement that CSK showed in the last game. I had a little faith on the fact that RCB were coming into this match after a break. The way RCB played, they warned everyone,” he said.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) will next face Delhi Capitals (DC) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday (Apr 11).

'Mentally disturbing, very painful for me’: R Ashwin opens up on IPL exit

Indian legend Ravichandran Ashwin strongly criticised Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) following their heavy 65-run defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad on Thursday (Apr 2). Chasing a huge total of 227, KKR were bowled out for 161 in just 16 overs. Reflecting on their performance, Ashwin highlighted a major concern, saying the biggest issue is their bowling, as the team doesn’t have even one bowler they can trust to deliver a full four overs effectively.&nbsp;"KKR are going to have a lot of problems this season. Forget about their batting bowling and all of that. The way they played this game and the last game, I think that they don't have one bowler who they can bank on for four overs. Many times you have one or two weak links whom you look to support, but you don't have even one bowler who can guarantee you four overs," said Ashwin on 'Ash ki Baat'.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-two-matches-done-how-has-andre-russell-fared-as-kkr-s-power-coach-1775211435695">IPL 2026 | Two matches done, How has Andre Russell fared as KKR's power coach?</a>&nbsp;Ashwin also noted that Varun Chakaravarthy appears to be low on confidence, conceding too many runs without picking up wickets. The 39-year-old advised him to work on his practice methods, try new approaches and focus on improving his skills to get through this phase.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/puka-nacua-lawsuit-attorney-says-rams-wr-entered-rehab-for-personal-growth-prior-to-anti-semitic-charges-1775194357459">NFL record-breaker WR Nacua enters rehab for ‘personal growth’ amid legal battle</a>&nbsp;"What happens with a bowler, when they get hit a lot, this is a time for Varun that he has never seen before. This is a massive blow for him. When I look at him, I feel his confidence is very low. If you are under so much pressure, there are methods to improve your practice. I feel he needs to take some time. He has to increase his hand speed and try all this in the nets. You cannot just go to the nets and do spot bowling on your own. This stage comes to everyone, where bowlers will pick you easily and even score runs. The game is pushing you to find a method and move forward. He will have to find answers," he explained.&nbsp;Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will next face Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the iconic Eden Gardens on Monday (Apr 6).

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will next face Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the iconic Eden Gardens on Monday (Apr 6).

Indian legend Ravichandran Ashwin strongly criticised Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) following their heavy 65-run defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad on Thursday (Apr 2). Chasing a huge total of 227, KKR were bowled out for 161 in just 16 overs. Reflecting on their performance, Ashwin highlighted a major concern, saying the biggest issue is their bowling, as the team doesn’t have even one bowler they can trust to deliver a full four overs effectively. "KKR are going to have a lot of problems this season. Forget about their batting bowling and all of that. The way they played this game and the last game, I think that they don't have one bowler who they can bank on for four overs. Many times you have one or two weak links whom you look to support, but you don't have even one bowler who can guarantee you four overs," said Ashwin on 'Ash ki Baat'. Also Read - IPL 2026 | Two matches done, How has Andre Russell fared as KKR's power coach? Ashwin also noted that Varun Chakaravarthy appears to be low on confidence, conceding too many runs without picking up wickets. The 39-year-old advised him to work on his practice methods, try new approaches and focus on improving his skills to get through this phase. Also Read - NFL record-breaker WR Nacua enters rehab for ‘personal growth’ amid legal battle "What happens with a bowler, when they get hit a lot, this is a time for Varun that he has never seen before. This is a massive blow for him. When I look at him, I feel his confidence is very low. If you are under so much pressure, there are methods to improve your practice. I feel he needs to take some time. He has to increase his hand speed and try all this in the nets. You cannot just go to the nets and do spot bowling on your own. This stage comes to everyone, where bowlers will pick you easily and even score runs. The game is pushing you to find a method and move forward. He will have to find answers," he explained. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will next face Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the iconic Eden Gardens on Monday (Apr 6).

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will next face Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the iconic Eden Gardens on Monday (Apr 6).

‘Not even one bowler who…’: Former India cricketer on KKR’s second IPL 2026 defeat

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru began their Indian Premier League 2026 season on a strong note, registering a comfortable six-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Much of the conversation after the match revolved around Virat Kohli’s intensity and Jacob Duffy’s effectiveness with the ball. Speaking after the game, former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin praised Kohli’s remarkable batting, highlighting that his energy remains exceptional even when the situation appears under control. He added that such moments reflect Kohli’s passion and commitment, setting an example of maintaining intensity at all times.&nbsp;“I find him quite bizarre at this age. I tell him this during our chats now and then. He was batting on 40-odd, there was a partnership going on, and RCB were coasting. He ran through for the first single, stopped there, and the other batter hadn’t even reached halfway, but he was already looking for a second. That was a 57-metre boundary on the leg side, and it shows the enthusiasm he still brings to the game. He walks the talk. It’s almost like he’s putting on a show for people to see how the game should be played, play it hard and play it the way it’s meant to be played. That stood out for me with respect to what Virat did. And if this is the way RCB are going to bat, Virat just needs to bat the full 20 overs," said Ravichandran Ashwin.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2026-virat-kohli-scripts-history-becomes-asia-s-top-t20-run-scorer-1774766204181">IPL 2026: Virat Kohli scripts history, becomes Asia’s top T20 run-scorer</a>&nbsp;Ashwin also highlighted Duffy’s impact with the ball, praising his skill and game awareness for restricting the opposition on a typically high-scoring pitch.&nbsp;“When Jacob Duffy was picked at the auction, I was probably the first one to say it was an amazing pick to replace Josh Hazlewood. At that time, he was the No.1 T20 bowler. He had also taken a six-wicket haul in a Test match and is right in the prime of his career. He has bowled a lot in New Zealand and knows exactly what he is doing. What really stood out is that he can swing the ball both ways, but he didn’t try to do that against Abhishek Sharma. The first time he bowled full to Travis Head, he got pumped down the ground, a good lesson learned. After that, he stayed away from that length and bowled very good areas. Tactically, RCB were superior and he executed those plans beautifully. He was probably the reason the scoring was kept in check. With around 400 runs in the day, it was still a low-scoring game by Chinnaswamy standards," he added.

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin praised Virat Kohli after his brilliant knock guided Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a six-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru began their Indian Premier League 2026 season on a strong note, registering a comfortable six-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Much of the conversation after the match revolved around Virat Kohli’s intensity and Jacob Duffy’s effectiveness with the ball. Speaking after the game, former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin praised Kohli’s remarkable batting, highlighting that his energy remains exceptional even when the situation appears under control. He added that such moments reflect Kohli’s passion and commitment, setting an example of maintaining intensity at all times. “I find him quite bizarre at this age. I tell him this during our chats now and then. He was batting on 40-odd, there was a partnership going on, and RCB were coasting. He ran through for the first single, stopped there, and the other batter hadn’t even reached halfway, but he was already looking for a second. That was a 57-metre boundary on the leg side, and it shows the enthusiasm he still brings to the game. He walks the talk. It’s almost like he’s putting on a show for people to see how the game should be played, play it hard and play it the way it’s meant to be played. That stood out for me with respect to what Virat did. And if this is the way RCB are going to bat, Virat just needs to bat the full 20 overs," said Ravichandran Ashwin. Also Read - IPL 2026: Virat Kohli scripts history, becomes Asia’s top T20 run-scorer Ashwin also highlighted Duffy’s impact with the ball, praising his skill and game awareness for restricting the opposition on a typically high-scoring pitch. “When Jacob Duffy was picked at the auction, I was probably the first one to say it was an amazing pick to replace Josh Hazlewood. At that time, he was the No.1 T20 bowler. He had also taken a six-wicket haul in a Test match and is right in the prime of his career. He has bowled a lot in New Zealand and knows exactly what he is doing. What really stood out is that he can swing the ball both ways, but he didn’t try to do that against Abhishek Sharma. The first time he bowled full to Travis Head, he got pumped down the ground, a good lesson learned. After that, he stayed away from that length and bowled very good areas. Tactically, RCB were superior and he executed those plans beautifully. He was probably the reason the scoring was kept in check. With around 400 runs in the day, it was still a low-scoring game by Chinnaswamy standards," he added.

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin praised Virat Kohli after his brilliant knock guided Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a six-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad.

'Find him quite bizarre at this age': Former Indian bowler unique take on Virat Kohli

Former India off-spinner and CSK legend Ravichandran Ashwin will pick up the commentator's mic for the first time in IPL 2026 in JioStar's studios. An accomplished storyteller and analyst of the game, Ashwin will bring his insights to live action and will be part of JioStar's special dedicated Hindi digital feed on JioHotstar. Ashwin, who retired from the IPL after the 2025 edition, will be joined by India and IPL legend Virender Sehwag, RCB legend AB de Villiers, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup champion Irfan Pathan, CSK’s IPL winners Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, and Faf du Plessis, former RCB Captain and Mentor Anil Kumble.&nbsp;JioStar’s panel will be bolstered by T20 champions, former internationals, world-class presenters, accomplished experts, seasoned broadcasters such as Ravi Shastri, Sunil Gavaskar, Michael Clake, Eoin Morgan, Aaron Finch, Dale Steyn, and Kevin Pietersen, among many others. The presentation of 20+ feeds will be brought to viewers by over 150 presenters and experts across JioHotstar and Star Sports Network.&nbsp;Star Sports Network will present the IPL 2026 in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada, while JioHotstar will offer fans as many as 12 language options, including English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Punjabi, Bhojpuri, Haryanvi, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati, and Malayalam. These will be enhanced by two audience-inclusive feeds - Indian Sign Language and Audio Descriptive feed.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-sanju-samson-5-highest-individual-score-in-a-lost-chase-in-ipl-yusuf-pathan-kl-rahul-shaun-marsh-ipl-2026-1774084136030">From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL</a>&nbsp;Siddharth Sharma, Head of Content, Sports – JioStar, said , “As the IPL continues to scale up in unprecedented ways, our push is to assemble legends and heavyweights of the league together in our studios in a way that will offer a unique insider’s perspective to fans, alongside also making the biggest T20 extravaganza more accessible to all. Along with bringing together the sharpest minds in the game, fans can take control of their viewing experience with numerous options on demand and enjoy an enhanced visual spectacle across devices.”&nbsp;In addition, JioHotstar will once again bring MaxView in Hindi and English, and also allow fans to choose a vantage point from which they can experience the game through a multi-cam experience featuring five camera angles, such as a Hero Cam, Stump Cam, Batter Cam, Field View, and a multi-view angle.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-cameron-green-to-liam-livingstone-5-most-expensive-players-in-ipl-2026-auctions-matheesha-pathirana-kartik-sharma-prashant-veer-1774031148132">From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions</a>&nbsp;The dedicated digital feed in Hindi will feature former IPL champions, legends, and some of the best analytical minds for a unique watch-along experience. Apart from Ashwin, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Virender Sehwag, Irfan Pathan, Umesh Yadav, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Aakash Chopra will come together on the feed to regale everyone with first-hand dressing room stories, never-heard-before tales.

Ashwin, who retired from the IPL after the 2025 edition, will be joined by India and IPL legend Virender Sehwag, RCB legend AB de Villiers, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup champion Irfan Pathan, CSK’s IPL winners Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, and Faf du Plessis and Anil Kumble.

Former India off-spinner and CSK legend Ravichandran Ashwin will pick up the commentator's mic for the first time in IPL 2026 in JioStar's studios. An accomplished storyteller and analyst of the game, Ashwin will bring his insights to live action and will be part of JioStar's special dedicated Hindi digital feed on JioHotstar. Ashwin, who retired from the IPL after the 2025 edition, will be joined by India and IPL legend Virender Sehwag, RCB legend AB de Villiers, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup champion Irfan Pathan, CSK’s IPL winners Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, and Faf du Plessis, former RCB Captain and Mentor Anil Kumble. JioStar’s panel will be bolstered by T20 champions, former internationals, world-class presenters, accomplished experts, seasoned broadcasters such as Ravi Shastri, Sunil Gavaskar, Michael Clake, Eoin Morgan, Aaron Finch, Dale Steyn, and Kevin Pietersen, among many others. The presentation of 20+ feeds will be brought to viewers by over 150 presenters and experts across JioHotstar and Star Sports Network. Star Sports Network will present the IPL 2026 in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada, while JioHotstar will offer fans as many as 12 language options, including English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Punjabi, Bhojpuri, Haryanvi, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati, and Malayalam. These will be enhanced by two audience-inclusive feeds - Indian Sign Language and Audio Descriptive feed. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Sanju Samson, 5 highest individual scores in a lost chase in IPL Siddharth Sharma, Head of Content, Sports – JioStar, said , “As the IPL continues to scale up in unprecedented ways, our push is to assemble legends and heavyweights of the league together in our studios in a way that will offer a unique insider’s perspective to fans, alongside also making the biggest T20 extravaganza more accessible to all. Along with bringing together the sharpest minds in the game, fans can take control of their viewing experience with numerous options on demand and enjoy an enhanced visual spectacle across devices.” In addition, JioHotstar will once again bring MaxView in Hindi and English, and also allow fans to choose a vantage point from which they can experience the game through a multi-cam experience featuring five camera angles, such as a Hero Cam, Stump Cam, Batter Cam, Field View, and a multi-view angle. ALSO READ | From Cameron Green to Liam Livingstone, 5 most expensive players in IPL 2026 auctions The dedicated digital feed in Hindi will feature former IPL champions, legends, and some of the best analytical minds for a unique watch-along experience. Apart from Ashwin, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Virender Sehwag, Irfan Pathan, Umesh Yadav, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Aakash Chopra will come together on the feed to regale everyone with first-hand dressing room stories, never-heard-before tales.

Ashwin, who retired from the IPL after the 2025 edition, will be joined by India and IPL legend Virender Sehwag, RCB legend AB de Villiers, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup champion Irfan Pathan, CSK’s IPL winners Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, and Faf du Plessis and Anil Kumble.

From Pitch to Mic: Ravichandran Ashwin to make commentary debut in IPL 2026

A look at the fastest Indian bowlers to reach 100 Test wickets, highlighting their quick rise, match-winning spells, key venues, and milestone moments that shaped India’s bowling history in the longest format of the game.


\A look at the fastest Indian bowlers to reach 100 Test wickets, highlighting their quick rise, match-winning spells, key venues, and milestone moments that shaped India’s bowling history in the longest format of the game.

Meet 5 Indians fastest to 100 ODI wickets

From Muttiah Muralitharan to Ravichandran Ashwin, here's a look at the top five bowlers fastest to 400 Test wickets. This list also includes Richard Hadlee, Dale Steyn and Rangana Herath

From Muttiah Muralitharan to Ravichandran Ashwin, here's a look at the top five bowlers fastest to 400 Test wickets. This list also includes Richard Hadlee, Dale Steyn and Rangana Herath

Meet top 5 bowlers fastest to 400 Test wickets

Former Indian mystery spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has shared his thoughts on Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson opening for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the upcoming Indian Premier League season. CSK acquired Samson via a trade with Rajasthan Royals (RR), sending Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran in exchange. With Samson joining the squad, he is expected to open the batting with Ruturaj Gaikwad. Recently, Ashwin said he would be excited to watch them start the innings together because both have strong but different batting qualities.&nbsp;&nbsp;“There is pedigree with Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson. Pedigree means you making quality runs and sustaining that for a period of time. We must not forget that. For me, I would love to see both of them go hammer and tongs at the opening slot. Both of them have different strengths. One is a caresser of the ball, while the other guy hits it hard so both of those qualities are there. So I will look at it in that fashion that I have two good openers,” said Ashwin on his Youtube Channel.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/andre-russell-announces-ipl-retirement-ahead-of-mini-auction-kkr-kolkata-knight-riders-1764488115558">KKR's Andre Russell announces IPL retirement ahead of mini-auction</a>&nbsp;Ashwin also pointed out that Gaikwad might prefer to bat at number three, as he already plays at that position for Maharashtra. He also picked Urvil Patel and Ayush Mhatre, two talented players who could bat in CSK's top order.&nbsp;&nbsp;“But the early signs are that Ruturaj wants to bat at number 3 because he’s also batting at no 3 for Maharashtra. Which begs the question where will Urvil Patel bat? CSK are looking at Andre Russell very hard. Let’s see who all are there in the auction. I still think Urvil Patel can play at no 4. But then if he comes at number 4 it becomes completely right handed. But Urvil takes on the powerplay. So if we open with Rutu and Sanju, Urvil can come in at number 3 but Ayush has scored runs. It’s a tricky question but we’ll see how they solve their top four conundrum?,” he added.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/tennis-india-s-niki-poonacha-qualifies-for-australian-open-2026-men-s-doubles-main-draw-1764437440588">India's Niki Poonacha qualifies for Australian Open 2026 men’s doubles main draw</a>&nbsp;With so many skilled batters available, CSK may struggle to finalise their batting order. Fans will have to wait and see how they settle this challenge in the coming IPL season.

With so many skilled batters available, CSK may struggle to finalise their batting order. Fans will have to wait and see how they settle this challenge in the coming IPL season.

Former Indian mystery spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has shared his thoughts on Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson opening for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the upcoming Indian Premier League season. CSK acquired Samson via a trade with Rajasthan Royals (RR), sending Ravindra Jadeja and Sam Curran in exchange. With Samson joining the squad, he is expected to open the batting with Ruturaj Gaikwad. Recently, Ashwin said he would be excited to watch them start the innings together because both have strong but different batting qualities. “There is pedigree with Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson. Pedigree means you making quality runs and sustaining that for a period of time. We must not forget that. For me, I would love to see both of them go hammer and tongs at the opening slot. Both of them have different strengths. One is a caresser of the ball, while the other guy hits it hard so both of those qualities are there. So I will look at it in that fashion that I have two good openers,” said Ashwin on his Youtube Channel. Also Read - KKR's Andre Russell announces IPL retirement ahead of mini-auction Ashwin also pointed out that Gaikwad might prefer to bat at number three, as he already plays at that position for Maharashtra. He also picked Urvil Patel and Ayush Mhatre, two talented players who could bat in CSK's top order. “But the early signs are that Ruturaj wants to bat at number 3 because he’s also batting at no 3 for Maharashtra. Which begs the question where will Urvil Patel bat? CSK are looking at Andre Russell very hard. Let’s see who all are there in the auction. I still think Urvil Patel can play at no 4. But then if he comes at number 4 it becomes completely right handed. But Urvil takes on the powerplay. So if we open with Rutu and Sanju, Urvil can come in at number 3 but Ayush has scored runs. It’s a tricky question but we’ll see how they solve their top four conundrum?,” he added. Also Read - India's Niki Poonacha qualifies for Australian Open 2026 men’s doubles main draw With so many skilled batters available, CSK may struggle to finalise their batting order. Fans will have to wait and see how they settle this challenge in the coming IPL season.

With so many skilled batters available, CSK may struggle to finalise their batting order. Fans will have to wait and see how they settle this challenge in the coming IPL season.

Can Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson form a strong opening pair for CSK? Ashwin share his views

Jasprit Bumrah’s workload management has been a topic of discussion ever since. The ace seamer has spent plenty of time on the sidelines recovering from a persistent back injury that troubled him over the years, something that also kept the Indian fans and team management on their toes. Ravichandran Ashwin, Bumrah’s former India teammate and bowling great, recently shared his views on managing his workload better, suggesting a bold move - something that differs from Bumrah’s goals. Despite BCCI selectors preferring to play him in Tests over white-ball cricket, Ashwin suggests otherwise, urging the Indian quick to play Tests only when he’s dearly needed.&nbsp;Since missing the final Test against England at the Oval this year, Bumrah featured in the triumph 2025 Asia Cup campaign, the home Tests against West Indies, the five away T20Is against Australia, and just concluded Proteas Tests. Although he sits out of the forthcoming ODI series against South Africa, Bumrah will return for the five T20Is that follow.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-sa-2025-shubman-gill-shreyas-iyer-return-from-injuries-bowling-coach-morne-morkel-answers-1764393411615">How long before Gill and Iyer return from injuries? Bowling coach Morkel answers</a> &nbsp;Speaking with AB de Villiers during a YouTube chat, Ashwin suggested, “If I were anywhere near him, I'd tell him to stick to white-ball cricket. Unless India desperately need him, don’t step into the Test side. But I know him well. He loves the format and wants to keep playing despite the challenge.” He continued that Bumrah must only feature in high-stakes Test matches, urging him to focus more on T20 cricket.&nbsp; &nbsp;“For India’s sake and Bumrah’s sake, I’d rather he focus on T20 cricket. Not waste energy on meaningless ODIs. Play only the Tests that matter, especially the away ones. And we should be developing a group of fast bowlers for home conditions anyway,” he added.<h3>De Villiers shares same thoughts</h3>Agreeing with Ashwin’s remarks, the former South African captain shared the same sentiments, suggesting that Bumrah must skip playing Tests in India and the Asian conditions, and only appear when Team India travels to SENA countries. &nbsp;“I’d pull him out of all the home and Asian Tests,” de Villiers said. “Use him only in Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and England. Keep him fresh for those, and let him focus on the white-ball formats where World Cups are on the line.” &nbsp;Meanwhile, Bumrah’s fitness remains key to India’s international calendar, considering the home T20 World Cup early next year, where he is assumed to lead the pace attack.&nbsp;

Since missing the final Test against England at the Oval this year, Bumrah featured in the triumph 2025 Asia Cup campaign, the home Tests against West Indies, the five away T20Is against Australia, and just concluded Proteas Tests.

Jasprit Bumrah’s workload management has been a topic of discussion ever since. The ace seamer has spent plenty of time on the sidelines recovering from a persistent back injury that troubled him over the years, something that also kept the Indian fans and team management on their toes. Ravichandran Ashwin, Bumrah’s former India teammate and bowling great, recently shared his views on managing his workload better, suggesting a bold move - something that differs from Bumrah’s goals. Despite BCCI selectors preferring to play him in Tests over white-ball cricket, Ashwin suggests otherwise, urging the Indian quick to play Tests only when he’s dearly needed. Since missing the final Test against England at the Oval this year, Bumrah featured in the triumph 2025 Asia Cup campaign, the home Tests against West Indies, the five away T20Is against Australia, and just concluded Proteas Tests. Although he sits out of the forthcoming ODI series against South Africa, Bumrah will return for the five T20Is that follow. Also read | How long before Gill and Iyer return from injuries? Bowling coach Morkel answers Speaking with AB de Villiers during a YouTube chat, Ashwin suggested, “If I were anywhere near him, I'd tell him to stick to white-ball cricket. Unless India desperately need him, don’t step into the Test side. But I know him well. He loves the format and wants to keep playing despite the challenge.” He continued that Bumrah must only feature in high-stakes Test matches, urging him to focus more on T20 cricket. “For India’s sake and Bumrah’s sake, I’d rather he focus on T20 cricket. Not waste energy on meaningless ODIs. Play only the Tests that matter, especially the away ones. And we should be developing a group of fast bowlers for home conditions anyway,” he added. De Villiers shares same thoughts Agreeing with Ashwin’s remarks, the former South African captain shared the same sentiments, suggesting that Bumrah must skip playing Tests in India and the Asian conditions, and only appear when Team India travels to SENA countries. “I’d pull him out of all the home and Asian Tests,” de Villiers said. “Use him only in Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and England. Keep him fresh for those, and let him focus on the white-ball formats where World Cups are on the line.” Meanwhile, Bumrah’s fitness remains key to India’s international calendar, considering the home T20 World Cup early next year, where he is assumed to lead the pace attack.

Since missing the final Test against England at the Oval this year, Bumrah featured in the triumph 2025 Asia Cup campaign, the home Tests against West Indies, the five away T20Is against Australia, and just concluded Proteas Tests.

‘Stick to white-ball cricket,’ Ashwin’s BOLD take on protecting Bumrah from injuries; de Villiers agrees

From Ravichandran Ashwin to Mohammed Shami, here's a look at the top five Indian bowlers with most Test wickets vs South Africa. This list also includes Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath and Harbhajan Singh

From Ravichandran Ashwin to Mohammed Shami, here's a look at the top five Indian bowlers with most Test wickets against South Africa. This list also includes Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath and Harbhajan Singh

From Ravichandran Ashwin to Mohammed Shami, 5 Indian bowlers with most Test wickets vs South Africa

From Muttiah Muralitharan to Nathan Lyon, here's a look at the top five spinners with most Test wickets

From Muttiah Muralitharan to Nathan Lyon, here's a look at the top five spinners with most Test wickets

Meet top 5 spinners with most Test wickets, check who tops the list

From Ravichandran Ashwin to Glenn McGrath, here's a look at the top five bowlers fastest to 450 Test wickets. This list also includes Muttiah Muralitharan, Anil Kumble and Shane Warne

From Ravichandran Ashwin to Glenn McGrath, here's a look at the top five bowlers fastest to 450 Test wickets. This list also includes Muttiah Muralitharan, Anil Kumble and Shane Warne

From Ravichandran Ashwin to Glenn McGrath, 5 bowlers fastest to 450 Test wickets

From Muttiah Muralitharan to Ravichandran Ashwin, 5 bowlers fastest to 400 Test wickets

From Dale Steyn to Allan Donald, 5 bowlers fastest to 250 Test wickets

From Jasprit Bumrah to Axar Patel, here's a look at the top five Indian bowlers with most wickets against Australia in T20 Internationals

From Jasprit Bumrah to Axar Patel, here's a look at the top five Indian bowlers with most wickets against Australia in T20 Internationals

From Jasprit Bumrah to Axar Patel, 5 Indian bowlers with most wickets against Australia in T20Is

India rested Jasprit Bumrah for the dead rubber against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup 2025 Super Four tie, bringing in two seamers, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana. While the left-armer seamer earned laurels for his impressive penultimate over and the Super Over, Rana leaked runs while looking clueless with his line and length. The lanky seamer conceded 54 runs in his four overs, and although he picked a wicket, he never troubled the Lankans, who equalled India’s first-inning total to take the game to the Super Over. Meanwhile, former Indian World Cup winners Krishnamachari Srikkanth and Ravichandran Ashwin blasted the Indian quick for his ‘all talk and no show’ in the last Super Match of the Asia Cup 2025.&nbsp;Speaking on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth tore apart Rana, saying, “Harshit Rana does too many filmy gimmicks. All these filmy reactions aren’t of any use, you’ve to actually bowl well. He does all these filmy reactions in the IPL as well.&nbsp;“This is not a good attitude; it’s just showboating. He dives after the ball is already past him. Why dive after the goal has already been scored? Aggression is different, but showboating so much at a young age is why he got punished today,” Srikkanth added. &nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asia-cup-pcb-chairman-mohsin-naqvi-offers-to-pay-haris-rauf-fine-for-abusing-during-india-game-report-1758973544227">PCB chairman offers to pay Haris Rauf’s fine for abusing during India game – Report</a>&nbsp;Defending 203, the Indian bowlers looked off colour; however, a few turned the game on its head and helped India stand tall in this exciting contest, including Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy. Acknowledging the same, Srikkanth said,&nbsp; &nbsp;"India won because of the four overs in the middle from Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy. They both bowled magically. Wrist spinners are always potential match winners, which got proven today. Sri Lanka today exposed the Indian bowling a little bit. Axar Patel can be taken to the cleaners if there is no turn,” he continued.<h3>‘Amateurish’&nbsp;</h3>While Srikkanth slammed Harshit’s wayward bowling, another former Indian star, Ravichandran Ashwin, was almost of the same opinion about his figures against Sri Lanka. Harshit conceded 12 runs in his first over and 32 in his next two before leaking ten in the last over. &nbsp;“I want to speak about Harshit Rana. Playing just a few matches, then sitting out others, can really affect confidence and rhythm. But the mistakes against Sri Lanka were really amateurish,” Ashwin said of the Indian quick on his YouTube channel.&nbsp; &nbsp;As Sri Lankan opener Pathum Nissanka slammed Rana left, right and centre, Ashwin noted his bowling plan. &nbsp;“One fast, one slow, one fast, one slow. That’s really amateurish cricket. He should learn from this,” Ashwin added.&nbsp; &nbsp;Meanwhile, India had already qualified for the Asia Cup final, facing arch-rivals Pakistan in the summit clash on Sunday (Sep 28) in Dubai.&nbsp;

While Srikkanth slammed Harshit’s wayward bowling, another former Indian star, Ravichandran Ashwin, was almost of the same opinion about his figures against Sri Lanka.

India rested Jasprit Bumrah for the dead rubber against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup 2025 Super Four tie, bringing in two seamers, Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana. While the left-armer seamer earned laurels for his impressive penultimate over and the Super Over, Rana leaked runs while looking clueless with his line and length. The lanky seamer conceded 54 runs in his four overs, and although he picked a wicket, he never troubled the Lankans, who equalled India’s first-inning total to take the game to the Super Over. Meanwhile, former Indian World Cup winners Krishnamachari Srikkanth and Ravichandran Ashwin blasted the Indian quick for his ‘all talk and no show’ in the last Super Match of the Asia Cup 2025. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Srikkanth tore apart Rana, saying, “Harshit Rana does too many filmy gimmicks. All these filmy reactions aren’t of any use, you’ve to actually bowl well. He does all these filmy reactions in the IPL as well. “This is not a good attitude; it’s just showboating. He dives after the ball is already past him. Why dive after the goal has already been scored? Aggression is different, but showboating so much at a young age is why he got punished today,” Srikkanth added. Also read | PCB chairman offers to pay Haris Rauf’s fine for abusing during India game – Report Defending 203, the Indian bowlers looked off colour; however, a few turned the game on its head and helped India stand tall in this exciting contest, including Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy. Acknowledging the same, Srikkanth said, "India won because of the four overs in the middle from Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy. They both bowled magically. Wrist spinners are always potential match winners, which got proven today. Sri Lanka today exposed the Indian bowling a little bit. Axar Patel can be taken to the cleaners if there is no turn,” he continued. ‘Amateurish’ While Srikkanth slammed Harshit’s wayward bowling, another former Indian star, Ravichandran Ashwin, was almost of the same opinion about his figures against Sri Lanka. Harshit conceded 12 runs in his first over and 32 in his next two before leaking ten in the last over. “I want to speak about Harshit Rana. Playing just a few matches, then sitting out others, can really affect confidence and rhythm. But the mistakes against Sri Lanka were really amateurish,” Ashwin said of the Indian quick on his YouTube channel. As Sri Lankan opener Pathum Nissanka slammed Rana left, right and centre, Ashwin noted his bowling plan. “One fast, one slow, one fast, one slow. That’s really amateurish cricket. He should learn from this,” Ashwin added. Meanwhile, India had already qualified for the Asia Cup final, facing arch-rivals Pakistan in the summit clash on Sunday (Sep 28) in Dubai.

While Srikkanth slammed Harshit’s wayward bowling, another former Indian star, Ravichandran Ashwin, was almost of the same opinion about his figures against Sri Lanka.

‘All these filmy reactions…,’ K Srikkanth bashes Harshit Rana for ‘no show’ against Sri Lanka in Asia Cup

ILT20: Indian Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is making a comeback to franchise cricket by registering for the upcoming ILT20 auction, marking a shift after his retirement from international cricket and the IPL.


ILT20: Ravichandran Ashwin Registers for Auction; Set to Return to Franchise Cricket

Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from Indian Premier League (IPL) on Wednesday (August 27). A veteran of the game, Ashwin goes down into the history books as one of the best spinner in Indian Premier League history.

Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from Indian Premier League (IPL) on Wednesday (August 27). A veteran of the game, Ashwin goes down into the history books as one of the best spinner in Indian Premier League history.

5 records of Ravichandran Ashwin which no other Indian has achieved

From Ravichandran Ashwin to Yuzvendra Chahal, here's a look at the top five bowlers with most wickets in Indian Premier League. This list also includes Sunil Narine, Piyush Chawla and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

From Ravichandran Ashwin to Yuzvendra Chahal, here's a look at the top five bowlers with most wickets in Indian Premier League. This list also includes Sunil Narine, Piyush Chawla and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

From Ravichandran Ashwin to Yuzvendra Chahal, 5 bowlers with most wickets in IPL

Veteran cricketer and Chennai Super Kings star Ravichandran Ashwin has officially called time on his Indian Premier League (IPL) career on Wednesday (Aug 27). The former IPL champion took to his social media handle to announce the decision to quit the IPL. Calling it a new beginning, Ashwin will go down as one of the greatest players to have played in the IPL while representing five different franchises.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Special day and hence a special beginning. They say every ending will have a new start, my time as an IPL cricketer comes to a close today, but my time as an explorer of the game around various leagues begins today🤓. Would like to thank all the franchisees for all the…&mdash; Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) <a href="https://twitter.com/ashwinravi99/status/1960566235873337576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 27, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Ashwin retires from IPL</h2>“Special day and hence a special beginning. They say every ending will have a new start, my time as an IPL cricketer comes to a close today, but my time as an explorer of the game around various leagues begins today. Would like to thank all the franchisees for all the wonderful memories and relationships over the years and most importantly the @IPL and the @BCCI for what they have given me until now. Look forward to enjoying and making the most of what’s ahead of me,” Ashwin wrote on his X handle.&nbsp;Ashwin, who returned to CSK for IPL 2025 after a nine-year absence, was linked with a move away from the franchise as reports emerged of his possible trade. However, those speculations came to an end on Wednesday with Ashwin announcing his retirement from the IPL. He goes down as one of the best IPL players, having won the title in back-to-back years in 2010 and 2011 while also bagging 187 wickets in 221 matches.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-asia-cup-2025-full-squads-complete-fixtures-date-time-venue-and-live-streaming-details-check-all-details-1755585771834">Asia Cup 2025: All you need to know - full squads, complete fixtures, date, time, venue and other key details</a>&nbsp;Ashwin occupied a significant portion of the salary and price after returning to CSK in the auction. He was bought for INR 9.75 crore in the mega auctions held in November 2024. His return was a welcome boost for the franchise, but did no favours to an already ageing squad. CSK already have players like MS Dhoni (44) and Ravindra Jadeja (36) who have passed their peak and contribute to the already ageing squad.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/cricket-asia-cup-2025-india-s-probable-playing-xi-shubman-gill-to-open-sanju-samson-at-no-3-tilak-varma-to-miss-out-1755663441686">Asia Cup 2025, India's Probable Playing XI: Shubman Gill to open, Sanju Samson at No.3; Tilak Varma to miss out</a>&nbsp;On the performance side, Ashwin had been a great servant to all the franchises he has played in the past in the IPL. However, with nine matches played and seven wickets taken in IPL 2025, he was clearly not someone CSK trusted for a long time.&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-virat-kohli-here-is-a-look-at-five-indian-batters-with-most-runs-in-asia-cup-odis-t20is-sachin-tendulkar-ms-dhoni-dhawan-1754123070628">From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is)</a>&nbsp;He announced his retirement from international cricket in December 2024, marking the end of an era in Indian cricket, which means he will have less competitive cricket to play in the build-up to IPL 2026.

Ravichandran Ashwin, who returned to CSK for IPL 2025 after a nine-year absence, was linked with a move away from the franchise as reports emerged of his possible trade. 

Veteran cricketer and Chennai Super Kings star Ravichandran Ashwin has officially called time on his Indian Premier League (IPL) career on Wednesday (Aug 27). The former IPL champion took to his social media handle to announce the decision to quit the IPL. Calling it a new beginning, Ashwin will go down as one of the greatest players to have played in the IPL while representing five different franchises.

Ravichandran Ashwin, who returned to CSK for IPL 2025 after a nine-year absence, was linked with a move away from the franchise as reports emerged of his possible trade.&nbsp;

Ravichandran Ashwin announces IPL retirement, posts 'my time as an IPL cricketer comes to a close'

Former World Cup winner and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) spin legend Ravichandran Ashwin has finally broken the silence on his exit rumours as speculations have been fuelled after a recent media report. Ashwin, now in his second stint with CSK, could be traded or released by the franchise as they look for a revamp for the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) season. However, Ashwin has thrown the ball in CSK’s court, stating it is the franchise’s responsibility to communicate with the player over his exit.<h2>Ashwin addresses CSK exit rumours</h2>"I played three years for RR," Ashwin said on his YouTube show. "After my 1st year, I got an email from the CEO saying this is your performance, this is our expectation and we're renewing your contract. It's one plus one plus one - the contract renewal. After every season, it's the responsibility of the franchise to communicate to the player if they're retaining or releasing him," said Ashwin.&nbsp;As things stand, Ashwin occupies a significant portion of the salary and price; he was bought for INR 9.75 crore in the mega auctions held in November 2024. His return was a welcome boost for the franchise, but did no favours to an already ageing squad. The veteran spinner is already 38, and by the time the next auctions arrive, he will turn 40. On the other hand, CSK already have players like MS Dhoni (44) and Ravindra Jadeja (36) who have passed their peak and contribute to the already ageing squad.&nbsp;&nbsp;ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-rohit-sharma-to-virat-kohli-here-is-a-look-at-five-indian-batters-with-most-runs-in-asia-cup-odis-t20is-sachin-tendulkar-ms-dhoni-dhawan-1754123070628">From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is)</a>&nbsp;On the performance side, Ashwin has been a great servant to all the franchises he has played in the past. However, with nine matches played and seven wickets taken in IPL 2025, he is clearly not someone the franchise can trust for a long time. He announced retirement from international cricket in December 2024, marking the end of an era in Indian cricket, which means he will have less competitive cricket to play in the build-up to IPL 2026.&nbsp;&nbsp;On the other hand, CSK are also yet to comment on the situation, meaning the exit talk remains a hot rumour.

Ravichandran Ashwin has been a great servant to all the franchises he has played in the past. However, with nine matches played and seven wickets taken in IPL 2025, he is clearly not someone the franchise can trust for a long time. 

Former World Cup winner and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) spin legend Ravichandran Ashwin has finally broken the silence on his exit rumours as speculations have been fuelled after a recent media report. Ashwin, now in his second stint with CSK, could be traded or released by the franchise as they look for a revamp for the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) season. However, Ashwin has thrown the ball in CSK’s court, stating it is the franchise’s responsibility to communicate with the player over his exit. Ashwin addresses CSK exit rumours "I played three years for RR," Ashwin said on his YouTube show. "After my 1st year, I got an email from the CEO saying this is your performance, this is our expectation and we're renewing your contract. It's one plus one plus one - the contract renewal. After every season, it's the responsibility of the franchise to communicate to the player if they're retaining or releasing him," said Ashwin. As things stand, Ashwin occupies a significant portion of the salary and price; he was bought for INR 9.75 crore in the mega auctions held in November 2024. His return was a welcome boost for the franchise, but did no favours to an already ageing squad. The veteran spinner is already 38, and by the time the next auctions arrive, he will turn 40. On the other hand, CSK already have players like MS Dhoni (44) and Ravindra Jadeja (36) who have passed their peak and contribute to the already ageing squad. ALSO READ | From Rohit Sharma to Virat Kohli, 5 Indian batters with most runs in Asia Cup (ODIs + T20Is) On the performance side, Ashwin has been a great servant to all the franchises he has played in the past. However, with nine matches played and seven wickets taken in IPL 2025, he is clearly not someone the franchise can trust for a long time. He announced retirement from international cricket in December 2024, marking the end of an era in Indian cricket, which means he will have less competitive cricket to play in the build-up to IPL 2026. On the other hand, CSK are also yet to comment on the situation, meaning the exit talk remains a hot rumour.

Ravichandran Ashwin has been a great servant to all the franchises he has played in the past. However, with nine matches played and seven wickets taken in IPL 2025, he is clearly not someone the franchise can trust for a long time.&nbsp;

Ravichandran Ashwin addresses CSK exit rumours, says 'it's franchise's responsibility to...'

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