'Same as KL Rahul saying strike rate is overrated' - Virender Sehwag slams R. Ashwin for "wicket-taking is becoming irrelevant" remark

Rajasthan Royals have been roaring in IPL 2024 with eight victories in nine matches, but there seems to be a certain cause for concern for the team, which is the form of bowling all-rounder R Ashwin. Ashwin, the ever-so reliable asset for whichever IPL team he has played, has had a quiet season so far, as he has managed only two wickets at an economy rate of nine in eight matches so far.

Meanwhile, after Mitchell McCleneghan and Varun Aaron disagreed with Ashwin's statements that "wicket-taking is becoming irrelevant in T20 cricket", former India cricketer Virender Sehwag has given his take on the off-spinner's outlook.

“Sometimes even when you bowl well, you go for 40 runs. Many teams these days use AI and technology and what's emerged out of those is that wicket-taking is becoming irrelevant in T20 cricket. If you look at this IPL wicket-taking is sometimes hampering certain teams,” Ashwin had said.

Drawing a parallel with the instance when KL Rahul had said that strike rate are "overrated" in T20 cricket, the former cricket expressed that Ashwin might not end up with an IPL team next year if he does not improve his bowling numbers going forward. Sehwag also highlighted that any team picks a bowler for their wicket-taking ability and not just for saving runs.

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"This is the same as when KL Rahul had said that the strike rate doesn't matter. Same thing. He said it for batting, Ashwin has said it for bowling that it doesn't matter if you take wickets. If his [Ashwin's] stats aren't good, then he may not even get picked in the auction next year. When you pick a bowler, do you expect him to give away 25-30 runs or do you expect him to give you wickets and become Player of the Match twice or thrice?," said Sehwag while speaking on Cricbuzz Live.  

'All his competitors are getting wickets' - Sehwag on Ashwin

Comparing Ashwin with his contemporaries and their wicket-taking performances in IPL 2024, Sehwag conjectured that Tthe limited usage of Ashwin's stock delivery (off-spin) and the over-experimentation with the carrom ball is hindering his wicket-taking skills. Sehwag remarked that if Ashwin's confidence in his off-spin or doosra is rekindled, he Ashwin start picking a lot more wickets.

"All his competitors - Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav or anyone else - are getting wickets. He thinks if he bowls off-spin, then anyone will hit him, which is why he bowls his carrom bowl, which is why he is not getting any wickets. Maybe, if he believes in his off-spin or doosra, he can bag more wickets," added Sehwag.