The veteran Indian spinner, R Ashwin expressed his displeasure at the umpires’ decision to change the ball during an IPL 2023 match between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (RRR Ashwin expressed his displeasure at the umpires’ decision to change the ball during an IPL 2023 match between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rajasthan Royals (R).). Ashwin batted for a standard rule, saying that the umpires did not consult RR before they went ahead and changed the ball on a dewy evening during CSK’s chase of 175 against RR at Chepauk.
Ashwin said the umpires changed the ball due to heavy dew and it left him surprised as the call was taken even without asking RR captain Sanju Samson. Ashwin led a stunning show with the ball, scalping a couple of wickets and conceding just 25 runs in his 2-over spell as Rajasthan Royals became the first team in IPL 2023 to defend a sub-190 total. RR also became the first team since Mumbai Indians in 2013 to clinch a win against CSK at their fortress, Chepauk.
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R Ashwin picked up the wickets of an in-form Ajinkya Rahane and big-hitter Shivam Dube as the Rajasthan Royals registered a close 3-run win in what turned out to be a last-over thriller. Ashwin said he asked the umpires about the change of ball and that they told him that they were well within their rules to do so.
Explaining the same, the veteran spinner asserted, , “I am quite surprised the umpires changed the ball for dew on their own. It’s never happened before. Some of the decisions in this year’s IPL on the field have left me a little flummoxed, to be honest. I mean, it left me flummoxed, in a good or a bad way. I think what you need is a little bit of balance.”
R Ashwin further added, “As a bowling team, we are not asking for the ball to be changed. But the ball was changed on the umpires’ accord. I did ask the umpire and he said we can change it. So I just hope every time there is dew they can change it every single time going forward in this IPL. You can do whatever you want, but you just need to be in a standard going forward.”
The Rajasthan Royals outspan CSK as their trio of spinners – Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, and Adam Zampa – scalped 5 wickets between them for just 95 runs in 12 overs.
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MS Dhoni’s valiant knock of 32 off 17 balls went in vain as CSK lost the match by a whisker. 21 runs were needed off the last over bowled by Sandeep Sharma and Dhoni brought the equation down to 5 runs from 1 delivery as he smashed back-to-back sixes but the CSK captain was not able to hit the final ball for a big one. RR won their 3rd match out of 4 games to move to the top of the IPL 2023 points table.
