Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is known for its outspoken nature. He recently criticized the IPL for batting-oriented awards during its post-game presentations.
The IPL’s presentation ceremony is not just limited to cash prizes and bonuses being given the Player-of-the-Match. The awards for most boundaries, sixes, highest strike rate, amongst other things are also handed out.
Ashwin, who is playing for Chennai Super Kings in the ongoing IPL 2025 season, expressed his reservations over these awards prioritizing batters.
“In the IPL presentation show, there are at least 10 awards that they give out to people. In fact 50% of both teams receives some sort of award. But if someone bowls well, delivers a good over, they don’t even get a single award,” Ashwin said while speaking on his YouTube channel.
“You have the super striker, super fours, super sixes, it’s all there. Super ball isn’t there. One time there was a fastest ball award, but if someone hits a six off the fastest ball of the day, he will still get the award. It’s a remarkable thing,” he added.
The IPL has started recognizing the bowlers with the most dot balls delivered in a match, which is certainly an improvement from the past editions. However, Ashwin still sees room for improvement.
Former Indian cricketer Vivek Razdan, a co-host on Ashwin’s YouTube channel, also commented: “And the funniest thing is, the most important person in this sport is the bowler. Why? Because the game only comes to life when the bowler delivers the ball. Everything else in cricket is reaction.”
“The game starts with the bowlers, and the one who is starting the game himself doesn’t get respect,” concluded Razdan.
To which, Ashwin quipped: “Itna door nahin hai ki bowler ball leke bhaag nahin jayega ground se bahar (It's not so far that the bowler can't run away from the ground with the ball.) Agar mein ball nahin daalunga toh aap maaroge kaise? (If I don't deliver the ball then how will you hit it?)”
Ashwin returned with the figures of 1 for 31 (4 overs) in CSK’s campaign opener against Mumbai Indians (MI) at Chepauk on March 23. He will be next seen in action during CSK’s home match against RCB on March 28.
