Veteran off-spinner R Ashwin has voiced his concern over bowlers plight in the T20 cricket amidst the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. The CSK's superstar spinner talked about the apparent imbalance between batting and bowling in the slam bang cricket. Pointing out that a mere two matches in the opening week of IPL 2025 witnessed scores dipping below the 200-run mark, Ashwin suggested that bowlers might soon require personal psychologists to manage the escalating mental pressure of consistently conceding runs at an unprecedented rate.
In a discussion on his YouTube channel, Ashwin expressed that succeeding as a bowler on certain IPL pitches is becoming an almost insurmountable challenge. He humorously added that at times, delivering full tosses might prove to be a more effective strategy than attempting to bowl into the pitch.
Notably, only two matches in the first week saw innings totals fall below 200: the clash between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians in Chennai, and the encounter between Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Kolkata. Even in the KKR versus RCB game, the visiting team chased down a target of 175 in a mere 16.2 overs. In other high-scoring affairs, SunRisers Hyderabad posted a massive 286 runs against Rajasthan Royals, who ultimately fell short by just 41 runs. Furthermore, Delhi Capitals recovered from a precarious 8 for 3 to successfully chase down 210 against Lucknow Super Giants, while Punjab Kings posted a formidable 244 runs, only to secure a narrow 11-run victory against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.
Bowlers will soon have to be accompanied by personal psychologists: R Ashwin
The implementation of the Impact Player rule, which grants teams the flexibility to introduce an additional bowler or batter during a match, has coincided with a noticeable increase in average IPL scores. In the 2024 season, the year the rule was introduced, the average score reached a significant 189 runs.
In response to an observation made by analyst Prasanna Agoram regarding a perceived shift towards a more defensive mindset among bowlers, Ashwin offered his perspective.
"You said bowlers are becoming defensive. I want to talk about that. I think bowlers will soon have to be accompanied by personal psychologists. I genuinely mean that. Okay, people say bowlers are becoming defensive. Let that argument stand. But in several instances, bowling has literally become impossible. On certain grounds, you can't keep the stumps in play. You mentioned full tosses-but (Yuzvendra) Chahal bowled full tosses to Sai Sudharsan and got away with singles (on Tuesday in Ahmedabad)," Ashwin said on his Youtube channel.
"In fact, a full toss isn't always a bad ball. On some pitches, deliveries that land on the wicket actually make it easier for batters. We all thought full tosses were easier to hit when we were young, but on certain surfaces, the ball pitches and comes onto the bat better than a full toss," Ashwin further stated.
Ashwin expressed his approval of the newly implemented rule that permits the review of wide deliveries using a moving marker line, stating that it offers a degree of respite for the bowlers.
The seasoned off-spinner, who concluded his international cricket career during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, was acquired by the Chennai Super Kings for a sum of Rs 9.75 crore. This acquisition marked his homecoming to his local franchise for the first time since 2015.
Ashwin made a notable impact in his return match, delivering a commendable performance against the Mumbai Indians on March 23. He successfully claimed a wicket while conceding a mere 31 runs in his four-over spell.
Ashwin will next be seen in CSK's upcoming IPL 2025 clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on March 28.