IPL 2019: Ravi Ashwin has a great cricketing brain, says KXIP fielding coach Craig McMillan

The Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) franchise finds itself at the 5th position on the Indian Premier League (2019) points table with 4 wins and 4 losses in eight games played. The team, led by Indian spinner Ravi Ashwin, has been known for its unpredictability in team selection and other decisions, all thanks to the think tank of the team.

Recently, KXIP fielding coach and former New Zealand all-rounder Craig McMillan had a detailed interview with the Times of India (TOI), in which he discussed the fielding standards in IPL and also the captaincy of the Ravi Ashwin. KXIP will play Rajasthan Royals (RR) next on April 16 in Mohali.

He has a great cricketing brain, says McMillan about R Ashwin

“He is very good. He is very thorough. He has a great cricketing brain. He has obviously played a lot of cricket for India and a lot of cricket worldwide so he understands the game well. He reads the game well, he understands his players and he is very competitive and I guess that is what has made him such a great cricketer for a long time. We are very lucky to have him as our leader in our side and he has been doing a great job,” McMillian was quoted by The Times of India (TOI) when asked to describe Ashwin’s captaincy.

KXIP have been trying to win all the games they play on their home ground of PCA stadium in Mohali, Chandigarh. “I think we have played well in Mohali so far this IPL. It’s a ground we know well. It’s a ground we like playing on, the conditions are good. It’s one of the bigger grounds in India so you have to adapt and change your game a little more than what you have to do in the other grounds,” McMillan said.

McMillan praises Chris Gayle

Chris Gayle has been on a song with the bat, as he smashed 99* against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in KXIP’s last game at the home, which the team unfortunately lost by eight wickets. At the age of 39, the Caribbean star is no longer a spring chicken on the field and as a fielding coach, McMillian gave a report on his performance on the field.

“Chris has done a pretty good job to be fair. He knows he is at the end of his career now, so he is not as quick and nimble, so we need to look after him. He has a nice safe pair of hands when is in the slips as well, so we are more than happy with what Chris is doing in the field,” McMillan signed off.

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