The recent Test series between India and Sri Lanka was memorable for a variety of reasons. While Virat Kohli's 100th Test was played in Mohali, India's new all-format skipper Rohit Sharma's red-ball leadership got off to a series-winning start in Bengaluru. Despite the fact that Indian cricket has recently seen a dramatic change in leadership, the two cricket superstars remain vital members of the squad regardless of their roles.
Kohli is currently with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), while Rohit is guiding Mumbai Indians (MI) in their quest for a record sixth Indian Premier League (IPL) championship. Dismissing both Indian stars is a bowler's dream, and Ravichandran Ashwin, a seasoned off-spinner, likes the match-up against the "two quality batters."
"I love going head-on with Virat and Rohit, to be honest. I think they are two quality batters that have played with me inside the dressing room, not two batters that I've got repeated contests against at an international arena. But I get to go against them in the IPL format so I love going against them. They don't like getting out to bowlers inside the team so I enjoy the contest and look forward to it every year," said Ashwin on ESPNcricinfo's show "Polite Enquiries".
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When Rajasthan Royals face Mumbai Indians on April 2nd and Royal Challengers Bangalore on April 5th, Ashwin, who has removed Kohli once and Rohit twice in the lucrative T20 competition, will face the two-batting greats.
In Test cricket, he has taken over 200 left-handed wickets, but Ashwin believes his outstanding record against southpaws is a "psychological" phenomenon. In the ICC Test Rankings for all-rounders, the tweaker recently replaced Jason Holder at No. 2.
In terms of Ashwin's current IPL franchise, the Royals have made a strong start with a 61-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad. While the veteran off-spinner went wicketless but only gave away 21 runs in four innings, leggie Yuzvendra Chahal took three wickets and reached the 250 wickets mark in T20 cricket.
Prasidh Krishna led the Royals bowling attack, which unsettled the opposing top-order, including removing batting star Kane Williamson for two runs. Trent Boult contributed with two wickets as well.
