Rajasthan Royals veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin revealed he wasn’t 100% fit for the first half of IPL 2024 after playing the five-match Test series against England. Ashwin was delighted after their four-wicket win against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Eliminator at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Wednesday.
The off-spinner dismissed a well-settled Cameron Green and got rid of dangerous Glenn Maxwell for a golden duck. Ashwin returned with impressive figures of 2-19 in his quota of four overs and played a key hand in restricting the opposition at 172-8.
Thus, Ashwin was awarded the Player of the Match for his impressive performance against RCB.
Ravichandran Ashwin said in the post-match presentation, “We haven’t done very well in the last few games. We didn’t put par scores and we lost Buttler, and Hetmyer was injured. Today’s win was important. We were a bit rusty chasing it, but this win will give us some confidence. In the first half, I felt my body wasn’t moving too well for the first half of the season. I had an abdomen injury as well. I am ageing as well. To come into the tournament from Test cricket was difficult, I needed some time to get that bowling rhythm. But once you have committed to your franchise, you want to go through with the season.”
Ashwin hailed the collective effort of the bowlers and lauded Trent Boult for giving a perfect start to the team by dismissing Faf du Plessis.
He added, “I think we hit the right lengths, the way Boult was bowling, he got a bit of swing and seam movement. In the second innings, I don’t think there was a lot of dew. I think there were some exceptional shots from our boys to get that chase. I think our greatest strength is the exuberance of youth and the experience we have got to support that. Now that Hettie is back in, and Rovman got a few boundaries today as well. We’ve got Keshav sitting outside. We have the right momentum for this team going forward.”
Rajasthan Royals will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in the second qualifier at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on Friday.
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