Ashwin Misses T20 Century as Gujarat Titans Hold Off Rajasthan Royals in Thrilling Contest
Punjab Kings Kick-Start IPL 2025 with a Win, Shreyas Iyer’s Selfless Act Praises by Veterans
Punjab Kings (PBKS) marked the start of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) with a thrilling 11-run victory over Gujarat Titans (GT) on Tuesday night in Ahmedabad. The win was largely attributed to the batting heroism of skipper Shreyas Iyer, who scored a brilliant 91 runs, and his selfless decision to hand over the strike to Shashank Singh, which proved pivotal in securing the win. “I have to be honest with you, if Shreyas had scored his hundred and we ended up with 233, and GT chased it down with a ball to spare, we would have blamed the bowlers for not defending the target,” said former Indian spinner Ravinchandran Ashwin, commending Iyer’s unselfish bowling change.
The 30-year-old Iyer, according to Ashwin, demonstrated a game-changing mindset by giving Singh the strike, allowing the latter to score 23 runs off the six balls and set a target of 244 for the Titans. This crucial decision, Ashwin believes, ensured that the bowlers were not under pressure to defend a smaller total. “If Shreyas scores his hundred and PBKS end with 233, and GT chase it down with a ball to spare, we would have blamed the bowlers for not defending the target,” Ashwin pointed out, underscoring the significance of Iyer’s bowler-friendly decision.
The IPL’s inaugural five matches have seen six scores exceeding 200, adding immense pressure on bowlers. Sunrisers Hyderabad set a record with 286 for 6 against Rajasthan Royals last Sunday, sparking alarm bells. Ashwin, however, believes that a bowler giving away 40 runs in a four-over spell will soon be applauded, citing Rashid Khan’s 20-run spell in the 18th over as a prime example. “We have reached a stage where a bowler giving away less runs without taking wickets is a blue-chip fund,” the veteran spinner noted.
Ashwin spoke about his experience playing alongside MS Dhoni, who made a last-over cameo to win a close match for Chennai Super Kings against Mumbai Indians. “When MS Dhoni came out to bat in Chennai, there was so much noise and chaos that we forgot the situation of the game. MS Dhoni has earned that love, and it was for the first time I saw that reception from the CSK dressing room. I was padded up, ready to bat, and asked Ruturaj how the wicket is, but everyone forgot the game was on the line,” Ashwin shared, recounting the electric atmosphere. As the 2025 season unfolds, Ashwin’s words of wisdom may serve as a timely reminder to teams, emphasizing the importance of collective effort and strategic decision-making in modern T20 cricket.
Original Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/ipl/ashwin-on-shreyas-iyer-missed-hundred-vs-gujarat-titans-9907043/
Category : IPL 2025,Sports
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Publish Date: 2025-03-26 15:56:00
