R Ashwin: It will happen a lot

Rajasthan Royals spinner R Ashwin says he retired himself out just like how they use substitutions in football; feels IPL will often witness such moves

R Ashwin feels the IPL is already late in using “retired out” as a tactical move and after becoming the first one to do so, the India spinner expects to see a lot more of it in the near future. Ashwin batted at No. 6 for Rajasthan Royals against Lucknow Super Giants on Sunday but left the field after two balls in the 19th over to make way for Riyan Parag. He had scored 28 off 23 before retiring himself out.

Not a stigma

“T20, as a sport, is heading towards where football has reached. Just like how they’re using substitutions, I did something similar [retiring out]. Already we’re late, but I believe this will happen a lot in the coming days. I don’t think it will be a stigma like running someone out at the non-striker’s end,” said Ashwin on his Youtube channel.

However, he thinks the move might not work always. “It might work sometimes and it might not work sometimes. These things happen constantly in football, and we haven’t cracked T20 cricket fully yet. This is a millennial sport. This is the next generation’s sport.

‘Goalie should save goals’

“In fact, if you see in football, Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo score goals frequently. But their team’s goalkeeper should also save goals and their defenders should defend well. Only then, a Messi or Ronaldo will be in the limelight.”

Since he was not able to get the desired boundaries in the slog overs, Ashwin thought it was best to make way for Parag. “It was just a tactical move. In fact, Riyan Parag has been batting very well and when the [K] Gowtham over [16th over] ended, I gave myself some time—five to six balls—to see whether I can hit a six or two fours.

“There were a few balls in the slot, I tried to hit, and mistimed a bit. I threw the kitchen sink at everything, but I couldn’t get the timing going.”

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