Ravichandran Ashwin believes that it’s time to change how people look at the individual milestones and bowlers’ roles in modern cricket. Ravichandran Ashwin hailed Shreyas Iyer’s recent selfless act as an example of prioritizing the team’s success over personal achievements.
During the recent IPL 2025 match between Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium on March 25, Shreyas Iyer looked to reach his maiden century but ended up with his innings at an unbeaten 97 runs on Tuesday.
With 10 balls left in the innings, Iyer’s ton was on the card, but instead of focusing on his milestone, he allowed his teammate Shashank Singh to take charge.
Ravichandran Ashwin praises Shreyas Iyer’s selfless act, highlights challenges for nowlers in T20 Cricket
Shashank Singh smashed a quick 44 off 16 balls, taking the PBKS to a strong total of 243 on the board against the Gujarat Titans. Iyer’s selfless decision proved crucial as PBKS secured a narrow 11-run victory over GT in their IPL 2025 opener in Ahmedabad on Tuesday.
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Analyzing the match on his YouTube channel, Ashwin highlighted that if Iyer had slowed down to complete his century, Punjab Kings might have ended with a lower total, and the bowlers would have been blamed if GT chased it down at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
In such cases, the Chennai Super Kings’ spinner pointed out that the bowlers are often blamed for conceding runs, and the batters’ focus on their milestone instead of maximizing the team’s score is overlooked. He stressed that Shashank’s quickfire knock made the crucial difference in PBKS’s win.
Ravichandran Ashwin credits Shashank Singh’s cameo for PBKS’s win over GT in the IPL 2025
Ravichandran Ashwin said on his YouTube channel ‘Ash ki Baat’: “If Iyer scored his hundred and PBKS ended with 233, and GT chased it down with a ball to spare, we would have blamed the bowlers for not defending the target. It is not like that; 230 is not the new 180.
It is a difference of 50 runs; imagine that. To be very honest, that (Iyer sacrificing his 100) could well have been the difference. Imagine what would have happened if he had gotten the strike and gone for the hundred. Whatever extra runs PBKS got, it was because of Shashank’s cameo.”
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Meanwhile, the former Indian off-spinner has pointed out that the balance between bat and ball has shifted significantly in modern cricket, making it tougher for bowlers. With high-scoring games becoming the fashion in the IPL, Ashwin believes that bowlers’ economy rates will naturally rise.
Ravichandran Ashwin calls for a new perspective in T20s
The CSK star also highlighted Shashank Singh’s aggressive batting against Rashid Khan in the 18th over, where the Afghan spinner was taken for three boundaries, including two sixes. Rashid finished with expensive figures of 1/48 in four overs, and the former Indian legend mentioned that this stat showed how even world-class bowlers struggle in the fast-paced T20 format.
Ashwin signed off by saying, “A time will come when if a bowler concedes 40 off four overs, he will be applauded for it. I think it is not far; we are already there. Rashid Khan was hit for 20 runs in the 18th over. When did you last see that? He has not become a bad bowler overnight.”
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