India’s recent Test series against Sri Lanka was memorable for many reasons. While the first match marked at Mohali marked Virat Kohli’s 100th Test, the second at Bengaluru gave India’s newly appointed all-format captain Rohit Sharma a winning start to his Test captaincy. However, currently, both Kohli and Rohit are busy at present in the IPL 2022. And, veteran off-spinner R Ashwin also enjoys the contest against the duo.

“I love going head-on with Virat and Rohit, to be honest. I think they are two quality batters that have played with me inside the dressing room, not two batters that I’ve got repeated contests against at an international arena. But I get to go against them in the IPL format so I love going against them. They don’t like getting out to bowlers inside the team so I enjoy the contest and look forward to it every year,” said R Ashwin on ESPNcricinfo’s show “Polite Enquiries”.

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However, Ashwin, who has removed Kohli once and Rohit twice in the IPL, will be up against them when Rajasthan Royals take on Mumbai Indians on April 2nd and Royal Challengers Bangalore on April 5th.

“I am actually not too sure about it. Even at the nets, I am not bowling to a lot of left-handers. There are not a lot of left-handed Indian batters coming through so I am not bowling to a lot of them. (It) may be psychological, maybe something that I am used to, or maybe something I like. I am not entirely sure about it,” R Ashwin further said.

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While talking about R Ashwin’s current IPL franchise, the Rajasthan Royals have got off to a good start with a convincing 61-run win over Sunrisers Hyderabad. While Ashwin went wicketless he gave away just 21 runs in his four, leggie Yuzvendra Chahal picked up three wickets to reach 250 scalps in T20 games.