Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has credited Rajasthan Royals (RR) for using the batting skills of Ravichandran Ashwin in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022, adding that no other team in the past managed to do so. Ashwin has amassed more than 100 runs in a season only twice and this is the only time he has managed to score more than 150 runs.
Ashwin’s strike rate of 146.40 is the best he has had in his IPL career which began in 2009. Ashwin has played an anchor’s role at No. 3 as well as the franchise has used him well as an aggressive finisher. The star batter played a match-winning knock of 40 not out against his former franchise Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on May 20 that helping Rajasthan seal a spot in the Qualifier 1.
During a recent chat on Star Sports ahead of Qualifier 1 between Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans in Kolkata, Harbhajan Singh said, “Rajasthan Royals should be credited for showing faith in Ashwin’s all-around abilities and this is the best franchise to have ever made full use of R. Ashwin.”
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He further added, “No franchise has ever utilized Ashwin’s batting talent before but this team has promoted him up in the batting order and he’s won them a match with the bat. They have understood the true potential of R. Ashwin and full credit to Ashwin for reposing the faith of the franchise as well.”
R Ashwin has already amassed 183 runs at an average of a little over 30 for RR and he has also scalped 11 wickets for them at a stunning economy rate of less than 9.
Meanwhile, Harbhajan Singh said it’s important for Jos Buttler to do well in the conditions of Kolkata to end a run of poor scores. The off-spinner pointed out that the pitch at Eden Gardens will be a lot fresher than the slow ones in Maharashtra which slowed down through the league phase.
Elaborating the same, Harbhajan Singh said, “Jos Buttler will have to adjust to the pitches in Kolkata. The pitches in Maharashtra have slowed down as the tournament reached its business end but the Eden Gardens track will be fresh, so not just Buttler, every batter will have to make that necessary adjustment.”
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He further explained, “Coming to Buttler, I feel that he seems to have peaked very early and that is a reason why runs are not flowing through his bat in the latter part of the tournament. He’s a great player and he’ll have to go back to his basics to regain his form.”
