Virender Sehwag strongly opposes Ravichandran Ashwin’s perspective on the significance of wickets in T20 cricket. Sehwag emphasizes that taking wickets remains a critical aspect of the game, impacting momentum shifts and team strategies. He believes that dismissing key opposition players can tilt the game in favor of the bowling side, making it a vital component in T20 matches. Sehwag’s viewpoint highlights differing opinions within the cricketing community regarding the importance of wicket-taking in modern T20 gameplay.
Ravichandran Ashwin’s Take on This Matter:
Ravichandran Ashwin has been in the spotlight lately, sharing insights on the direction of T20 cricket following the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) and his performance with the Rajasthan Royals (RR). He noted that his role with RR prioritizes control over taking wickets, reflecting a shift in T20 dynamics where wicket-taking may be losing prominence. Despite his lower wicket count this season, Ashwin’s strategic approach underscores evolving strategies in the fast-paced T20 format.
Ashwin suggested that the analytical tools and technology employed by teams suggest a trend where restricting runs is being prioritized over taking wickets in T20 cricket. He noted that strategies focused on controlling the flow of runs rather than solely targeting wickets may be gaining prominence. This observation reflects evolving tactics influenced by data-driven insights and changing dynamics in the format.
Ashwin had said, “Sometimes even when you bowl well, you go for 40 runs. Many teams these days use AI and technology and what’s emerged out of those is that wicket-taking is becoming irrelevant in T20 cricket. If you look at this IPL wicket-taking is sometimes hampering certain teams.”
Virendra Sehwag’s Take on Ashwin’s Statement:
Former India batsman Virender Sehwag countered Ashwin’s viewpoint, stating that it reflects Ashwin’s personal mindset. Sehwag emphasized that a bowler’s ability to take wickets remains crucial, especially in his coaching or mentoring approach. He emphasized that bowlers who cannot consistently take wickets may struggle to secure a spot in a team under his guidance. Sehwag’s perspective highlights the enduring value placed on wicket-taking prowess in competitive cricket.
Sehwag said, “All his competitors – (Yuzvendra) 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.”
He added, “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’s Performance so far in IPL 2024:
This season, Ravichandran Ashwin has managed to secure only two wickets across eight matches while maintaining an economy rate of nine runs per over. This performance indicates a lower impact in terms of wicket-taking compared to previous seasons. Despite this statistic, Ashwin’s role within the team may involve focusing more on containing runs and providing stability rather than solely targeting wickets. The evolving dynamics of T20 cricket may influence his approach, with strategies emphasizing control and adaptability over traditional wicket-taking aggression.
Sehwag’s Take on Ashwin’s Future:
Sehwag contrasted Ashwin’s views with an analogy to Lucknow Super Giants captain KL Rahul’s statement from last year, where Rahul downplayed the perceived significance of a batter’s strike rate in T20 cricket. Sehwag implied that just as strike rate remains vital for batsmen despite Rahul’s view, wicket-taking ability remains crucial for bowlers, highlighting the differing perspectives within the cricketing community.
Sehwag further said, “This is the same as when KL Rahul had said that the strike rate is overrated. 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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