Months after legendary India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin’s advice to move away from batting stride to unsettle Pakistan’s unorthodox spinner Usman Tariq’s long pause, Daryl Mitchell completed the dare in Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2026. Mitchell pulled away twice as he was unsure of Tariq’s timing of releasing the ball. Ashwin lauded Mitchell and feels that the opposition captain and batters should take it up to umpires and match referees before the clash begins.
“Now it’s upto the umpires and match referees to time the pause for his delivery,” Ashwin wrote on X.
“If the pause isn’t consistent, then the batter has every right to move away.
“The captains & opposition batters should raise this issue with the umpires and match referees before the game begins.
“Well done Mitchell.”
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One of the followers asked for Ashwin's take on umpires asking Mitchell to face the delivery and not pull out. In addition, cricketer-turned-commentator Ramiz Raja criticised the Kiwi all-rounder as well.
“Mitchell is right. So is Tariq.
“The timing of the pause should be timed to see if he delays it ball to ball,” Ashwin clarified.
What did Ashwin advise India batters?
Ashwin’s original advice was for India batters during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 as Pakistan intended to unleash Tariq in front of them. The off-spinner wasn’t that effective as Ishan Kishan wreaked havoc. Then, India’s finishers – Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh – did the job in the slog overs.
"There is one thing I want to see — who dares to do that? If Tariq pauses before delivery, the batter has the right to move away. The batter can say, 'I don't know when the ball is coming, so I moved away,” Ashwin had said on his YouTube channel.
"That will be an interesting case and a huge headache for the umpire. See, I'm not against anyone. If I was there, I would have done that. I would have done everything that is within the laws of the game. In this instance, the umpire will have to decide whether to warn the bowler or the batter. Odds are — and that is how cricket has worked — the bowler will be warned first.
“Imagine, this is such a big game. And Tariq has been the cynosure. He has to bowl 24 deliveries like that. If the batter starts withdrawing, imagine the pressure on Tariq. He might have to alter his action in the middle of the game. Pakistan's trump card might turn out to be nothing. But again, the umpire could also tell the batter that this is his established action, so you cannot move away. This would be an unprecedented situation for an umpire. But I doubt any of the Indian batters have it in them to pull it off. I'm not sure," he added.
It is yet to be seen whether Mitchell will face any sanctions for his move. Usually, batters move away from their batting stride often but not twice in a row.