Former India captain MS Dhoni was known for trying new things in cricket. His ability to think beyond the imagination helped him to win so many battles against various sides. In fact, Dhoni introduced new tactics to the fascinating game. For instance; he started the practice of opening the T20 innings with a spinner which later became a trend.
During the early seasons of Indian Premier League (IPL), Dhoni brought Ravichandran Ashwin in powerplays which really helped the CSK as this method was entirely new for other teams.
Remembering the similar days, Ashwin during an Instagram chat recalled the 2011 final against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).
It was a game when CSK posted 205/5 in their allotted 20 overs. In response, RCB could only reach 147/8, thanks to Ashwin who bowled the very first over and dismissed the dangerous Chris Gayle for a duck. The Chennai-born bowler reckoned that it was the best three-ball set he ever bowled in his career.
“I remember a similar ball to Jesse Ryder in the same IPL where Jesse stepped out and hit me for a six. The common mistake a lot of batsmen make is that they try and think that a lot of bowlers don’t think and they react to deliveries, but I don’t do that,” said Ashwin.
“If you hit me for a six, I try and stay as attacking as possible, and I knocked over Jesse Ryder with an arm ball the very next ball. Likewise, I imagined something for Chris, and it worked. I couldn’t believe it myself. One of the finest three-ball sets that I have bowled in my career,” the 33-year-old added.
Ashwin said that he enjoyed how fans had built up the battle of him vs Gayle in the season.
“Previously, when we played RCB in the qualifier, I got Chris out again. He was out LBW. I think it may have been the umpire’s fault, Simon Taufel, I reckon. But he hit me for a six in that game and then got out. Basically, everybody was tipping this off as the off-spinner versus Chris, that’s the best match up. And Ashwin is really bowling well, and in a good rhythm and all that, this whole build-up of the contest,” the new recruit of Delhi Capitals added further.
