IPL 2022: Yuzvendra Chahal’s camaraderie with R Ashwin steers Rajasthan Royals into playoffs

Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravichandran Ashwin played a crucial role to take Rajasthan Royals to the playoffs. Both the spinners provided RR with breakthroughs. Ashwin’s cameo in RR’s final group stage match demonstrated how good of a batter he can be if used effectively.

Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravichandran Ashwin are considered the greatest spinners of India in the present decade. They are a role model to many upcoming cricketers. Rajasthan Royals began their Tata IPL 2022 campaign by roping in the spin-bowling duo in the IPL Mega-Auction. Having the duo on the same side was expected to be problematic for the opposition, and so did that happen. Chahal fetched 26 wickets in 14 matches in the group stage, with an extraordinary strike rate of 12.92. He is also the leading wicket-taker this season. On the other hand, R. Ashwin scored 183 runs in 14 matches and took 11 wickets. Ashwin may not be able to pick many wickets, but he bowled with an economy of 7.14 and bowled tight line and length in the middle overs to trouble the batters.

Ashwin’s best batting performance in IPL came this season. In an exciting match between Rajasthan and Delhi Capitals, Ashwin came up at one down to bat after RR lost their wicket early. Ashwin played an innings of 50 runs in 38 balls, helping Rajasthan reach a respectable total of 160. Similarly, in the last group stage match of Rajasthan, Ashwin played a sensational knock of 40* off 23 balls, including three sixes. His innings helped RR to finish second on the points table. Rajasthan will now be facing Gujarat Titans in the qualifier. Finishing in the top two has given them an extra chance to reach the finals.

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Ashwin is known as a bowling all-rounder. This season he got a chance to play up the order due to Rajasthan’s weak middle order. To deepen and strengthen RR’s batting, Ashwin was seen batting at numerous positions. In the start, he wasn’t able to deliver, which led to many controversies. But with his fantastic performances in the crucial matches, Ashwin shut the critics up. Ashwin batted his way through the tournament with an average of 30.50 and an astonishing strike rate of 146.40.

Similarly, with his classic leg-spin deliveries, Chahal bothered the batters throughout the tournament. Chahal seemed to deceive batters with flight, which indicated that he backed his basics. He used his googly accordingly and disturbed batters by bowling slow-turning deliveries away from the batters. Chahal has equaled Tahir’s record (26 wickets) of taking the most wickets in an IPL season as a spinner and is expected to overtake Tahir’s record in the playoffs. Additionally, Chahal is just two wickets away from breaking Amit Mishra’s record of most wickets in IPL as a spinner. Chahal has 165 in his bag, whereas Mishra holds the record with 166 wickets. With Chahal on the verge of achieving two milestones, the playoffs will be a delight to watch for the cricketing world.