Ashwin also highlighted how helpful balanced surfaces can be for bowlers in the shortest format.
Dublin Guardians captain and mentor Ravichandran Ashwin praised Ireland's recent 2-0 T20I series win over India ahead of the inaugural European T20 Premier League (ETPL).
The former India spinner cited that Ireland's triumph over the reigning T20 world champions underlined the competitive possibilities for emerging cricketing nations, while also highlighting how helpful balanced surfaces can be for bowlers in the shortest format.
“Two things made me very happy. One was that a team ranked 10th could beat a team ranked first. I think the sport should be like that. It is also a lesson that the FIFA World Cup has taught us. For this game to become a truly global sport, with more nations coming to the fore and with cricket set to feature in the Olympics in the next couple of years, I see it as a huge positive,” Ashwin told JioStar.
Ashwin noted that balanced pitches allow bowlers to compete fairly, proving that surface conditions are vital for an engaging contest between bat and ball.
“The second aspect is that if there is something in the pitch and there is a balance between bat and ball, bowlers are going to come into play, which Ireland proved beyond any doubt,” he added.
Ashwin commended Irish spinner Matthew Humphreys for dismissing Shivam Dube with finger spin against India, citing it as proof that the art remains relevant.
“To have a left-arm spinner like Humphreys bowl to Shivam Dube and get him caught at square leg is a lesson for people who ask me what has happened to the art of finger spin,” he stated.
Ashwin emphasized that modern T20 pitches heavily favor batters and bowlers need detailed game plans and a strong element of luck to survive because anyone can concede many runs on a given day.
“The pitches have reached a point where any bowler can go the distance on a given day. I think you need a lot of luck to survive, apart from having plenty of plans in place in modern T20 cricket,” he remarked.
Ashwin further praised Humphreys for handling late-over pressure. “So, it was a refreshing pitch to watch, and it was even more refreshing to see Humphreys being trusted with the 18th or 19th over against a left-hander. The pitch had enough in it and did not allow the left-hander to hit through the line. So, on both counts, it was very, very pleasing to watch,” he said.
Ashwin will now shift his attention to the ETPL, where the Dublin Guardians are among the teams preparing for the league's first season.
Rahul Dravid, the co-owner of the Dublin Guardians, praised Ashwin's cricketing legacy and his clear vision for mentoring young players during this stage of his career.
“I'm glad that we got Ashwin on board. He is obviously a legend of the game and a world-class performer, but he is also a really good captain and leader. He is someone who has a very clear idea and vision of how, at this stage of his career, he wants to focus on developing and working with young talent,” Dravid said.
(With IANS Inputs)