Follow UsYet another listless display from Ravichandran Ashwin has triggered everyone after Chennai Super Kings (CSK) shambolic show at home against Kolkata Knight Riders on April 11 (Friday). The off-spinning all-rounder first flopped with the bat, scoring one off seven balls.
But despite his stronger suit with the ball, Ashwin did not turn up to the party. He got smashed for 30 runs and gave away three sixes to Sunil Narine. It irked former Indian captain Kris Srikkanth, who dished out a verbal blow to Ashwin, stating that the off-spinner bowled ‘terribly’ and should be dropped immediately from CSK’s XI.
“Ashwin has been bowling TERRIBLY. If he keeps bowling like this, I’m not even sure if he’s going to be in the XI, let alone play well,” Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel.
“Jadeja is not at his peak. I want CSK to remove Ashwin from the XI. I have been supporting Ashwin till now but not after this performance, I think CSK should be bold and drop him.”
Who plays instead of Ashwin, then? Srikkanth wants CSK to pick the Karnataka leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal, who had an outstanding Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) campaign with 14 wickets, averaging 11.85, and can bat as well (55 runs @13.75)
“There’s a leg-spinner called Shreyas Gopal, right? Play him instead of Ashwin in the next match. Remove Ashwin from the team. It will work out. Gopal is a really good player, he can win matches. He has fire in the belly. I backed Ashwin for the longest time, but I can’t anymore. I have seen it all.”
Srikkanth wasn’t also happy with Rahul Tripathi or Deepak Hooda’s selection, stating that they have to try out players like Shaikh Rasheed now.
“Try someone new. Going back to the same people like Tripathi and Hooda, what message are you sending? CSK is the best among the worst teams. They don’t have batting, bowling, or fielding. If you feel the season is going to go terribly, try out new players. That’s how you got Ruturaj Gaikwad.”