R Ashwin explains why IPL franchises should choose their captain before the auction, recalls conversation with KL Rahul

Ahead of the Indian Premier League 2024, Ravichandran Ashwin indirectly questioned franchises that don't pick their captains before the auction.

Arun Rawal

• Sun • 17 Mar 2024

Rajasthan Royals' R Ashwin during a practice session (File Photo: Getty Images)

Highlights:

R Ashwin led the Punjab-based franchise for two IPL seasons.

Ashwin feels that the captain should be picked before the auction.

While Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) announced their captain after the auction ahead of the 2024 season, veteran Indian spin all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin explained why it is a bad move. Ashwin believes the captain should be involved in discussions about players the franchise goes for in the auction as he will lead the side.

Ashwin recalled his stint as captain for Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings). The off-spinner led them for two IPL seasons in 2018 and 2019 but could not take the side into the playoffs. He took KL Rahul's example on how building the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) squad has helped him take them to playoffs after lacklustre two seasons with the Punjab franchise as captain.

"Even though KL Rahul started off his captaincy phase very averagely at Kings XI, he has gone to LSG, handpicked his own players and shown what he can do."

"This is something I profess. Even when I became the captain of the Kings XI, the team was already picked, and they decided that I should be the captain after the auction," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

"But when a captain picks his side during an auction, it is different as he is the one who is going to play with them, take responsibility for their actions and know their fallacies."

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‘Captain would realise his mistake’ – Ashwin

Ashwin recalled his conversation with Rahul who said that even if the franchise does not do well, it helps the captain identify where he went wrong his strategies.

"The captain will have better control in that place. I also talked to KL about it. He said that in this case, he would realise his mistake if he played around with people with whom he was comfortable."

"The like-to-like replacements are much more thought out and clear, is what he said."

"So, has that made a difference in his captaincy stint? Has it been fruitful for KL? Of course," he concluded.

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