Ravichandran Ashwin becomes the third Indian bowler to pick 250 wickets in T20 cricket

Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has become only the third bowler from the nation to account for 250 dismissals in the T20 format. Ashwin achieved this unique distinction after accounting for the dismissal of David Miller in Match 36 of the ongoing UAE leg in IPL 2021. The cricketer was representing Delhi Capitals (DC) with Rajasthan Royals (RR) being the opponents. Piyush Chawla (262) and Amit Mishra (260) are the only Indian bowlers to have accounted for more dismissals than him.

The 34-year-old spinner has 140 wickets to his name in IPL, with Ashwin bagging 52 wickets for India in 46 T20Is. The remaining dismissals were recorded in the domestic circuit. The Capitals are looking to defend a target of 155 against the Rajasthan-based franchise.

Mustafizur Rahman helps RR restrict DC to 154

Left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman made his presence felt for RR, accounting for the key dismissals of Rishabh Pant and Shimron Hetmyer while conceding just 22 runs to help restrict DC to a score of 154. The pacer enjoyed valuable support from Chetan Sakariya who chipped in with two dismissals as well while leaking 33 runs. Karthik Tyagi and Rahul Tewatia accounted for a wicket apiece.

“It was almost 38 or 39 degrees. It’s an open stadium, so I was feeling very warm. We realized that this was a slow wicket, so we decided against giving them pace and that’s why we succeeded. I think the pressure will be on them defending this total. Samson is very clear minded, he has his plans and he works according to them,” said Sakariya as quoted by Cricbuzz.

Shreyas Iyer was the top run-getter for the Capitals, accumulating 43 runs off 32 deliveries. Iyer’s knock comprised of a boundary and two sixes. Hetmyer provided some late momentum down the order, smashing 28 runs in 16 balls with five fours to his credit.

DC have defended a total of 154 or lesser than that only twice in a full 20-over match in the IPL. Both instances were recorded in clashes against RR, which will certainly boost the morale of the bowling department.

Recent addition of variations to Ashwin’s arsenal

Ashwin is traditionally an off-spinner, but has recently brought in quite a few variations in his bowling to improve further as a cricketer. This decision was criticised by Virender Sehwag who believes that the player should stick to his core strengths.

“Ravichandran Ashwin has a mindset that if he bowls off-spin, anyone will hit him for a four or a six. Because of this fear, he resorts to experimentation. When MS Dhoni used to be behind the wickets, he never allowed Ashwin to experiment. Sometimes you need to make a bowler realize that no doubt a batsman may hit you for a six but it also gives you a chance to get him out,” said Sehwag on Cricbuzz Live.

Ashwin proved expensive in the recent encounter against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH), leaving the former Indian cricketer bemused.

“The way he was bowling, it gives him the least chance to dismiss a batsman. If he resorts to off-spin, then LBW, bowled comes into the equation. Yes, he was economical but as a senior bowler, he should give breakthroughs in the middle overs,” stated Sehwag.