If you ask me whether Indian Premier League (IPL) has made any contribution to our National Cricket Team I would say, yes, but only a few contributions which could be calculated in less than five fingers. You might have enjoyed those massive sixes of Chris Gayle, Adam Gilchrist, Robin Uthappa, Sachin Tendulkar, Virendra Segwags of the world. You might have cheered when you saw the timber flying all over the ground in the bowling of Lasith Malinga, Lakshmipathi Balaji, Harbhajan Singhs of the world. But one question can you say by putting your right hand across your chest that, you have enjoyed watching this fast and furious format of the Cricket called ‘T20’. Former Indian cricketer Ravi Shastri is publicizing this format as if he had born while his mom was watching a T20 match. I am not writing this post to express my views on T20. I just want to express my takes on two players who have noted in short span by whole cricket world. One among them is Mr. Ravichandran Aswin. I don’t know what made me his fan, whether his innocent look or the exclusive carom balls which are unplayable. To be very frank I am not a Chennai Super Kings (CSK) fan. But yet I watch all of their matches. Just to see this man bowling. One thing I liked about his captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is that, he use Aswin in the power play overs where only two fielders are outside the 30 yard circle. Yet Aswin pick wickets at a very low economy rate. Aswin is the only bowler after Wasim Akram, who made me feel that, in every ball this guy is going to pick wicket. Aswin in his early days was a footballer. He used to hit the ball hard. But as I always say God had different plans for that footballer kid and he made his way to the Tamilnadu State Ranji Trophy team in no time. Aswin was picking wicket as though batsmen had no bat in their hand to defend his Off break / Carom balls. He confuses batsman with his simple yet very cool balling action. His ball would pitch where exactly batsman would find it difficult to choose a defense shot or an attacking shot to be played. And after pitching nobody in this world than Aswin know in which way it would turn. That is the skill of this ‘IPL discovery’. Remember what happened in Mohali while India was playing against Australians in World Cup Semi final 2011, When Shane Watson started picking Indian quickies; Dhoni threw the 10 over old new ball to Aswin. Aswin did what exactly his caption and 100 million Indians wanted. A ball pitched in half volley length turned exactly opposite to the brainwave of Shane Watson and stuck his pad. “Howzzzzzzaaaaatttt….” Entire stadium roared, umpires’ index finger gone straight and looked at the sky. Watson found it difficult to believe. And India won the game.
Throughout the World cup Dhoni used Aswin as an opening bowler. You know in ODIs mandatory power play is for 10 overs which would extend to 15 if fielding team takes bowling power play in next 5 overs. Aswin had never disappointed his captain and always given some bonus in terms of early breakthroughs. Aswin is not only a bowler but alson a guy who is capable of using the long handle effectively. It is not always you would find Indian selectors choosing Aswin and Rahul Sharmas of the world over Harbhajan Singh. Aswin and Rahul were in the test and ODI squad of Indian team for the Westindies. Cricket fans of across the world were waiting Sachin to hit his 100th ton but had witnessed a tall guy who had batted in No. 7th position in the batting order striking a magnificent hundred to save team India from a losing stage and making them victorious. Aswin was among the pick of the wickets after that series. He bagged a handful 21 wickets which included a lot of front and middle order wesindians.
Aswin was the guy Team India looking for who could pick up wickets and capable of creating a twist in the game with both bat and ball. They got a bowler who deliver results and a batsman who is technically as strong as a middle order batsman who could save the team in any other bad situation.
Thanks IPL. Had not IPL find guys like Rahul and Aswin I would have stopped watching it long back. Thanks for this contribution.
Sorry guys could not write about Rahul in this particular post. Space issues, you know? Next time it would be none other than Rahul Sharma.
Happy Reading :)
Thanks for your time
Sharath Muthirakkal
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