Sometimes I wonder if IPL is even cricket: R Ashwin makes huge statement
Veteran India spin-bowling all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin made a huge statement about the Indian Premier League, saying sometimes he wonders whether IPL is even cricket.
In Short
- Ashwin says he wonders if IPL is even cricket
- Ashwin says sport takes a backseat in IPL
- Ashwin is representing Rajasthan in IPL 2024
Veteran India spin-bowling all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin made a huge statement about the Indian Premier League, saying sometimes he wonders whether IPL is even cricket. Ashwin made this statement while talking about the massive growth of the marquee tournament since its inception in 2008. Ashwin, who has been part of the IPL for 17 seasons, is representing Rajasthan this season. Ashwin has won the IPL twice during his time as a Chennai player in 2010 and 2011.
Speaking on the Club Prairie Fire podcast, Ashwin told former cricketers Michael Vaughan and Adam Gilchrist that he wonders sometimes whether IPL is even cricket, adding that they end up practicing during advertisement shoots. Ashwin has played 199 matches in the IPL, claiming 172 wickets while scoring 743 runs. He averages 28.77 with the ball while bowling at an economy of 7.02.
“As a youngster coming into the IPL, I was only looking to learn from the big stars, I did not think about how the IPL would look 10 years down the line. I can say that, having been in the IPL for so many seasons, the IPL is huge. Sometimes I wonder if IPL is even cricket, because sport takes a backstage (during IPL). It's so huge. We do end up practising in advertisement shoots and sets! That's where the IPL has gotten to,” said Ashwin.
He went on to say that no one saw IPL become as big as it has, saying former New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris told him that IPL wouldn’t last for more than 2-3 years. Ashwin recently turned out for Rajasthan in their match against Delhi and played a blazing knock of 29 of 19 balls.
“No one envisaged the kind of growth that the IPL has had. I still remember a conversation I had with Scott Styris when we were both at CSK. He told me that when he was playing for the Deccan Chargers in the initial seasons of IPL, he did not think the IPL would last for more than two-three years. Initially, there was a big influx of money,” Ashwin added.
Ashwin will be hoping to lift the IPL title for the third time in his illustrious career and guide Rajasthan to their first title since 2008.