Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has thrown up a cheeky, headline-grabbing idea to counter Pakistan’s mystery spinner Usman Tariq ahead of the high-voltage India vs Pakistan clash on February 15 in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Ashwin’s suggestion has already sparked debate among fans and pundits, especially with Tariq emerging as one of Pakistan’s most potent weapons in the middle overs.
Speaking on his YouTube show Ash Ki Baat, Ashwin floated a legal but mind-game-heavy tactic to counter Tariq’s now-famous pause at the crease. He challenged Indian batters to step away if the bowler halts his action, arguing that the laws give the batter the right to reset if the delivery timing becomes uncertain.
“There is one thing I want to see. Who dares to do that?” Ravichandran Ashwin said. “If Tariq pauses before delivery, the batter has the right to move away. The batter can say, ‘I don’t know when the ball is coming, so I moved away.’”
ALSO READ: Hardik Pandya Reveals Gruelling Fitness Drills Behind His Match-Winning All-Round Show
“That will be an interesting case and a huge headache for the umpire,” he added. “The umpire will have to decide whether to warn the bowler or the batter. Odds are, and that is how cricket has worked, the bowler will be warned first.”
🚨Ravi Ashwin on Usman Tariq Action (Ash ki Baat)🚨
If Usman Tariq runs in to bowl and then suddenly stops, the batter is allowed to move away. The batter can say, I thought he wasn’t going to bowl. This is main problem for Umpires.
Ashwin having PHD in cricket rules…🙌 pic.twitter.com/vuvv2VVWvy
— Jatin Yadav (@yadav_jati17044) February 13, 2026
Ashwin believes such a move could disrupt Tariq’s rhythm and plant doubt in the bowler’s mind, especially under the pressure of an India-Pakistan contest. He pointed out that repeating the same stop-start action over 24 deliveries in a high-stakes game could become mentally taxing if batters keep withdrawing.
Tariq’s bowling action has drawn comparisons with Muttiah Muralitharan due to his hypermobile elbow, though Ashwin clarified that Tariq’s pause is part of his natural action and well within the laws. The bigger challenge for batters, however, is the disruption caused by Tariq’s diagonal run-up and delayed release, which breaks timing and forces hesitation.
WATCH – Arshdeep Singh Shares Recovery Glimpse Of Abhishek Sharma After Namibia Win
India’s batting has shown signs of discomfort against spin in the early phase of the tournament, losing clusters of wickets to associate sides. That makes Tariq an even bigger threat on surfaces like R. Premadasa Stadium, where the pitch can grip as the match wears on. With Tariq coming off a three-wicket haul against the USA, Pakistan’s mystery spinner arrives in form — and India may need more than just brute force to neutralise his impact.
