IPL 2019: "I always loved a battle with MS Dhoni", says Gautam Gambhir

Gambhir also commented on today's IPL encounter between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kings XI Punjab.

Gambhir feels R Ashwin would be keen to prove a point to Virat Kohli | IANS

Ahead of the IPL 2019 game between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kings XI Punjab on Wednesday (April 24), Gautam Gambhir has said that the encounter will see an individual battle between the skippers of both teams.

Gambhir feels Ravichandran Ashwin would be keen to prove a point to Virat Kohli as the former is currently out of India’s limited-overs setup. The off-spinner hasn’t featured in a limited-overs game for India since July 2017.

“I wonder how much of confidence they [RCB] could have taken from their wins over KKR and CSK. A lot of boxes still need to be ticked for RCB. Personally, I see an individual battle in Wednesday's game as well. R Ashwin may have a point or two to prove to Virat Kohli, the India captain. Ashwin is currently out of favour when it comes to playing for India. He would want to show the world, and Virat, that he is still a force to reckon with,” Gambhir wrote in his column for TOI.

The former India opener also gave his personal example that he used to love a battle with MS Dhoni while leading Kolkata Knight Riders against Chennai Super Kings.  

“I can tell you from experience that this was my thought when I led KKR against Chennai. You can call it an ego thing but I loved a battle with MS Dhoni. Therefore I won't be surprised if both Ashwin the bowler and Ashwin the captain would want to come out on top in this game," he added.

Earlier this year, Gambhir had batted for Ashwin's inclusion in India’s World Cup 2019 squad, saying that a finger-spinner would be as effective as a wrist-spinner in English conditions. However, Gambhir’s wish wasn’t granted as the MSK Prasad-led selection committee left out the off-spinner from country’s 15-member World Cup squad announced last week.

In the ongoing IPL, Ashwin has bowled well amid the burden of captaincy. The KXIP skipper has claimed 11 wickets from 10 matches at an average of 26.72.

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 24 Apr, 2019

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