In the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), the batters have dominated their counterparts. The 250 point mark has already been exceeded eight times this season. During the runfest, only two bowlers – Jasprit Bumrah and Sunil Narine – managed to control the flow of runs while bagging crucial wickets for their team. Bumrah and Narine are the only bowlers with an economy rate of less than 7, while they also claim more than 10 wickets each. Bumrah leads the Purple Cap charts with 17 wickets in 11 matches at an economy rate of 6.25.
Narine, on the other hand, has an economy of 6.72 this season with 13 wickets under his belt as well. Rajasthan Royals and India spinner Ravindra Ashwin took to his YouTube channel to heap praise on Bumrah and Narine for their prowess this season.
However, Ashwin made a sly comment on Narine's bowling action, which has been questioned in the past, but refused to delve deeply into the subject.
“Bumrah has a very good unique point. He has a clear advantage over other pacers because of his release point. I will not talk about Sunil Narine. It is wrong as per my policy. Narine was also hit for 2-3 seasons. This season was he is excellent. But let's not go into that,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
On the contrary, Ashwin has been a bit expensive so far this season, leaking runs at nine per over. However, the biggest concern regarding his form was the lack of wickets.
In nine matches, he has collected just two wickets. Despite his struggles, Ashwin recently claimed that taking wickets in T20s is irrelevant.
However, reacting to his comment, former India batsman Virender Sehwag issued a harsh criticism of Ashwin and said the veteran might remain unsold at the auction next season.
“This is the same as when KL Rahul said that strike rate doesn't matter. Same. He said it for batting, Ashwin said it for bowling that it doesn't matter if you get the wickets. If his stats If you are a bowler chooses, do you expect him to give away 25-30 runs, or do you expect him to give you wickets and be man of the match two or three times?” Sehwag said on Cricbuzz.
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