IPL 2018: Ravichandran Ashwin might implement his leg-spin tactic in Test cricket

Ashwin claimed the wicket of Sarfraz Khan with a leg break on Friday.

Ashwin was seen honing his leg-spin skills during the Iran Cup match | BCCI

It seems that Ravichandran Ashwin wants to be an all-round spinner. After impressing one and all with his off-spin and carrom ball over the years, the Tamil Nadu lad is exhibiting his leg-spin skills in the ongoing season of Indian Premier League for Kings XI Punjab.

Ashwin, who is leading the KXIP franchise in IPL 2018, dismissed RCB left-hander Quinton de Kock with an off break on Friday (April 13) while he got rid of the right-handed Sarfraz Khan with a leg break. And now Ashwin’s Kings XI Punjab teammate Aaron Finch has said that the offie might extend his leg-spin ploy to the longest format as well.

"The way he's landing them, the confidence he's delivering the ball with and the shape that it's coming out of his hand, there's no reason why he wouldn't give it a go," Finch told cricket.com.au.

"It's hard to say - for a guy who's got that many Test wickets, why would you change what you're so good at? But give everything a go I guess – he's landing them here in such a high-pressure situation against very good players of spin. I think it will be something you see in time in Test cricket," he further added.

Given the fact that India are scheduled to tour England and Australia later this year, the added variation could help Ashwin improve his overseas Test record. In contrast to his Asia’s bowling average (22.75), the 31-year-old has taken 48 wickets at an average of 40.97 in 15 Tests outside Asia.

During the Iran Cup match between Rest of India and Vidarbha in Nagpur last month, Ashwin was seen honing his leg-spin skills. Ahead of the IPL 2018, the Tamil Nadu lad had said that evolution is the way to go forward for all cricketers.

“For anything there needs to be a precedent and probably in this case I might be the precedent. Unless you try something, you’re not sure it’s going to work, so I reserve my judgement on this topic right now, but I believe that is the future of the way T20 will be played. Multi-utility cricketers will be able to do more than the monotonous stuff that they are picked for,” Ashwin had said while speaking exclusively to kxip.in.

 

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 14 Apr, 2018

    Share Via