The IPL 2025 hasn’t been a perfect homecoming for the offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin so far. The veteran spinner has been taken for plenty of runs without many wickets to his name yet.
But the former Indian cricketer Kris Srikkanth has some advice for the CSK team management regarding Ravichandran Ashwin. Srikkanth feels that Ashwin should not bowl inside the powerplay to make him more effective alongside the other two spinners in the team.
Srikkanth also suggested some other changes in the team that can help them prepare a winning combination for the upcoming matches. The Super Kings have struggled to find a perfect combination so far, which has resulted in two successive defeats.
CSK asked to change their strategy for Ravichandran Ashwin
While speaking on his YouTube channel ‘Cheeky Cheeka’, Kris Srikkanth called for NZ’s experienced opener Devon Conway to return to the team in place of Rahul Tripathi and emerging bowling allrounder Anshul Kamboj to replace Jamie Overton.
Srikkanth also backed Ravichandran Ashwin to regain some form but suggested him to be bowling after the powerplay instead of bowling inside the first six overs when the field restrictions are on.
“(Devon) Conway has to come in place of Jamie Overton, and also bring in Anshul Kamboj into the XI. With regards to Ashwin, don’t drop him, but stop him from bowling in the powerplay,” the former India opener said.
“Between 7-18th over, he can be effective, with Jadeja and Noor Ahmad, they can easily slip in 10 overs at least. I will drop (Rahul) Tripathi and bring in Kamboj and then Conway in place of Overton,” he added.
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Kris Srikkanth backs C Andre Siddarth
CSK usually sticks with the same team and backs the players to give their best in a long tournament like the IPL. As a result, it deprives the youngsters of an opportunity to make a mark for themselves.
Kris Srikkanth feels that the team must give a chance to the talented young batter C Andre Siddarth to make a mark here. He wants Shivam Dube to play as a regular and Andre Siddarth to be included as an Impact Player.
“I would make Shivam Dube play in the XI and bring in Andre Siddarth as an Impact Player. Even Mukesh Choudhary is a good option, he has bowled well for CSK in the past,” Srikkanth reckoned.
C Andre Siddarth is a talented teenager who has already made a mark in first-class cricket at a young age. The 18-year-old was signed for INR 30 lakhs by CSK in the IPL 2025 mega auction.
Ravichandran Ashwin in the first two matches of IPL 2025
Ravichandran Ashwin has picked up 3 wickets in the three matches so far at an average of 33 and an economy rate of 9.90. In the last match against the Rajasthan Royals, he was taken to the cleaners by Nitish Rana.
Ashwin gave away 19 runs in his first over and finished with 1-46 in four overs. He started his IPL career for CSK before being released by the franchise in 2015. However, the former India offspinner was signed again by the franchise in the IPL 2025 mega auction, for INR 9.75 crore.
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