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Ravichandran Ashwin has been a handy batter for Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 season. The Royals’ team management have used him as a floater and it has paid dividends on a few occasions.
On May 20, Ashwin played one of his most crucial innings with the bat to help Royals cement their spot in the top two. After the unbeaten 40, Ashwin said that he channeled the inner Aussie opener against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) bowlers in the run chase.
“Feels like a million dollars. It was important that we won the game tonight. That's quite a good finish to the group stage games. The communication was pretty clear before the tournament. I had to work on a lot of stuff. The team management was clear with my position. I know what my role is. I am glad to make it to the playoffs and super pleased. I just brought out the David Warner inside me (laughs),” Ashwin said in the post-match presentation.
Ashwin scored 40 runs off just 23 balls including two fours and three sixes. The veteran Indian bowling all-rounder came to bat at no.5 in the run chase of 151.
Earlier, he did well with the ball too. The off-spinner took the wicket of CSK opener Devon Conway in the ninth over and conceded 28 runs from his quota of four overs.
“I have to make the batsmen take risks. I have always believed I understand the game well. I am quite innovative, they have understood me well. I want to play my A game,” Ashwin further added.
The 35-year-old has scored 183 runs in the tournament so far at an average of 30.50 including one half-century. He has maintained an impressive strike rate of 146.60. The last time he scored more than 100 runs in an IPL season was in 2018.
With the ball, he has taken 11 wickets at an average of 36.36. However, he has bowled with an economy rate of 7.14 runs per over.
