Former India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has lauded Rajasthan Royals for backing Ravichandran Ashwin’s batting ability in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022, adding that no other team in the past managed to do so.
Ashwin has scored in excess of 100 runs in a season only twice and this is the only time he has scored in excess of 150 runs. Ashwin’s strike rate of 146.40 is the best he has had in his IPL career which began in 2009.
Ashwin has played an anchor’s role at No. 3 as well as been used as an aggressive finisher. The star batter played a match-winning knock of 40 not out against his former franchise Chennai Super Kings on May 20 that helped Rajasthan seal a spot in the Qualifier 1.
“Rajasthan Royals should be credited for showing faith in Ashwin’s all-round abilities and this is the best franchise to have ever made full use of R. Ashwin,” Harbhajan Singh told Star Sports on the eve of Qualifier 1 between Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans in Kolkata.
‘No franchise has ever utilised Ashwin’s batting talent before but this team has promoted him up in the batting order and he’s won them a match with the bat.
“They have understood the true potential of R. Ashwin and full credit to Ashwin for reposing the faith of the franchise as well.”
Ashwin has scored 183 runs at an average of a little over 30 for Rajasthan Royals while picking 11 wickets for them at a stunning economy rate of less than 9.
