Former India opener K Srikkanth has slammed Ravichandran Ashwin for his defensive bowling during the game between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians earlier in the ongoing IPL 2025.
The veteran spinner is plying his trade for CSK for the first time since 2015. He started his IPL journey with CSK in 2009 and played seven seasons for them before parting ways when the franchise was suspended for two years.
Ashwin marked a return to CSK in the IPL mega auction
Between 2015 and 2024, he played for four different teams before CSK signed him up in the last mega auction.
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While expectations were sky high from Ravichandran Ashwin, he has not managed to deliver with the ball so far. In seven games, the former India spin spearhead has picked up only five wickets with an economy rate of more than 9.
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Ravichandran Ashwin has turned completely defensive: K Srikkanth
Ravichandran Ashwin failed to make an impact in the last game as well when CSK played against the Mumbai Indians. After CSK finished their innings on 176/5, Mumbai Indians chased down the modest total inside 16 overs without losing a wicket.
Ravindra Jadeja was the only bowler who picked up a wicket in the match for the Chennai-based outfit. Ravichandran Ashwin, on the other hand, bowled an economical spell but could not provide his team with any breakthrough. He conceded 25 runs in his 4 overs.
With Ashwin failing to take any wickets in the game, Srikkanth has accused him of being defensive with his bowling. The former cricketer stated that Ashwin just wanted to complete his overs and was not focused on taking wickets.
“What is Ashwin doing? He has turned completely defensive,” Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel ‘Cheeky Cheeka’.
“He is not looking to take wickets. It’s like, ‘Let me just get through these four overs.’ He never went for wicket-taking. Just bowling safe. What was the idea of picking Ashwin today? To get two wickets and win the match. But what did he do? He bowled safely in the powerplay.
Srikkanth launches a full-blown attack
“It didn’t matter to CSK at all. MI (Mumbai Indians) were also sensible, taking singles off him. You have to understand the match situation, the IPL situation – and bowl accordingly,” he added.
With only six league games left in the season for CSK, Ashwin will be hoping to make a bigger impact. CSK’s chances of qualifying for the playoffs are all but over after their defeat against Mumbai. They are currently at the bottom of the points table with just 2 wins from 8 games.
