Cricket

R. Ashwin, India's premier off-spinner, has hailed the team's current bowling riches and expressed hope that their legacy will inspire future generations of bowlers. "Each of those bowlers that bowl alongside me has the ability to hold on to a game, bowl with discipline, and yet produce wicket-taking balls," said Ashwin, who clinched a record-equalling 11th Player-of-the-Series award for his all-round effort in the recent Test series against Bangladesh.Ashwin emphasized that it is not just the bowlers' individual abilities but also the collective belief of the entire team that has contributed to their success. "When Rohit says that you make 400 to try and make a game out of it, it tells you that the captain believes the bowlers will get the job done," he said. "These bowlers have done it day in and day out. And they have the ability to pick 20 wickets. The bowling attack is quite special, and I hope that this legacy of bowling is taken forward."Explaining how India fashioned their remarkable win in under two days, Ashwin revealed that the aim was to have at least 70 to 80 overs to bowl out Bangladesh again. "When we gathered inside, he mentioned that we would go hammer and tongs and try to make 400 runs in probably 50 overs," he said. "In that bargain, if we got bowled out of less than 200, it was okay because we made a game of it."Ashwin also spoke about the importance of captain Rohit Sharma's aggressive approach. "When you walk the talk, I think the dressing room has no choice but to follow that pattern," he said. "We had 50 runs in three overs, and there was no looking back."When asked about breaking Muttiah Muralitharan's record for most Player of the Series awards, the 38-year-old insisted that cherishing memories is more important than records. "I do not have an answer for that. But I would like to do it at a special occasion," said Ashwin. "Probably if I end up with that, it's great. But these are not things that motivate me any more, honestly. For me, the love of the game is something that I have harped upon repeatedly. It makes a world of difference for me to enjoy what I do. I am so glad I have gotten here. I would like to retain that happiness."

The Impact Player rule, introduced in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2023, has sparked controversy among players and experts. While some, like Rohit Sharma, believe it hinders the development of all-rounders, others, like R Ashwin, argue that it adds strategic depth to the game.Ashwin believes the rule encourages innovation and makes the game fairer. He cites the example of Shahbaz Ahmed, who became a match-winner for Sunrisers Hyderabad in Qualifier 2 of IPL 2024 after being brought in as an Impact Player."It gives a little more value for strategy," Ashwin said. "The other side of that argument is it doesn't encourage all-rounders. But no one is stopping them."Ashwin argues that the rule has not prevented all-rounders from emerging. He points to Venkatesh Iyer, who has impressed for Lancashire in England."There's an opportunity for innovation and it makes the game fairer," Ashwin said.He also believes the rule has helped players move up the ranks, including Shahbaz Ahmed, Shivam Dube, and Dhruv Jurel."If not for the Impact Player rule, he may have never gotten the chance," Ashwin said of Jurel.However, Ashwin opposes the reintroduction of the Right to Match (RTM) rule, which allows teams to retain players they have released."If a franchise has released a player because they don't see him in their top four or five, then what gives them the right to jump in during an auction," Ashwin argued.He suggests that players should have the option to decide if they want to be RTMed and that a pre-determined price should be set by the player.

On a deteriorating pitch at the Sri Ramakrishna College ground, Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) XI set a formidable target of 353 runs for Haryana in the Buchi Babu tournament. TNCA XI's innings was anchored by B. Indrajith's unbeaten 75 runs, which included three boundaries and a six.Haryana had been bowled out for 218 in their first innings, giving TNCA XI a crucial 175-run lead. Captain R. Sai Kishore was the star performer with the ball, taking seven wickets for 76 runs. He dismissed Jayant Yadav (65) and Dheeru Singh (74), two of Haryana's top scorers.TNCA XI's second innings got off to a shaky start as openers S. Lokeshwar and G. Ajitesh were dismissed early. However, Pradosh Ranjan Paul (44) and Indrajith steadied the ship with a 46-run third-wicket partnership. Indrajith also shared an unbeaten 55-run sixth-wicket stand with R. Sonu Yadav, guiding TNCA XI to a commanding position.Haryana's bowlers struggled to contain TNCA XI's batsmen, with Nishant Sindhu and Jayant Yadav taking two wickets each. However, the target proved too daunting for Haryana, who were bowled out for 16 runs in their second innings.