Sehwag Slams Ashwin for "Wickets Don't Matter" Statement

Virender Sehwag has launched a scathing attack on Ravichandran Ashwin for his recent statement that strike rate doesn't matter for bowlers. Sehwag, known for his outspoken nature, pointed out Ashwin's poor wicket-taking record in the ongoing IPL 2024 and suggested that the off-spinner might not find a place in the playing XI of a team coached by him.

"This is the same as when KL Rahul had said that the strike rate doesn't matter. Same thing. He said it for batting, Ashwin has said it for bowling that it doesn't matter if you get the wickets. If his stats aren't good, then he may not even get picked in the auction next year. When you pick a bowler, do you expect him to give away 25-30 runs or do you expect him to give you wickets and become man of the match twice or thrice?" Sehwag said on Cricbuzz.

Sehwag further criticized Ashwin's bowling style, suggesting that the off-spinner is not getting wickets because he is not bowling his best deliveries. "All his competitors - Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav or anyone else - are getting the wickets. He thinks if he bowls off spin then anyone will hit him. Which is why he bowls his carrom bowl, which is why he is not getting any wickets. Maybe if he believes in his off spin or doosra, he can bag more wickets. But that's his mindset. But if I were a mentor or a coach of a franchise, I wouldn't think like that. If my bowler is thinking about saving runs and not taking wickets, he won't find a place in the team."

Despite Ashwin's poor form, Rajasthan Royals have continued to support him by featuring him regularly in their playing XI. However, his spin-bowling teammate at RR, Yuzvendra Chahal, has been more prolific with 13 wickets in 9 matches and has maintained an economy rate of 9.

Earlier, Ashwin had made an appeal after bowlers getting hammered in the current IPL season saying "Save the bowlers someone plsss SOS SOS SOS".

Tags: #VirenderSehwag, #RavichandranAshwin, #IPL2024, #Bowling, #Wickets