Rajasthan Royals spinner Ravichandran Ashwin heaped praise on Jasprit Bumrah’s bowling form in the ongoing IPL 2024, highlighting his unique release point as a key factor behind his success. However, Ashwin steered clear of discussing Sunil Narine’s bowling action, a topic that has courted controversy in the past.
Jasprit Bumrah on Top
Currently leading the Purple Cap race with 17 wickets in 11 games, Jasprit Bumrah has been a standout performer for Mumbai Indians, despite their struggles in the tournament. His exceptional economy rate of 6.25 further underlines his effectiveness.
Ravichandran Ashwin acknowledged this, crediting Bumrah’s release point for giving him a distinct advantage over other pacers.
Sunil Narine all-round brilliance
While Ashwin refrained from commenting on Sunil Narine’s bowling action, he did recognize his impressive performance this season. Narine, the second-highest run-scorer for Kolkata Knight Riders with 380 runs, has also emerged as a potent bowling threat. His 13 wickets in 10 matches, coupled with a miserly economy rate of 6.72, place him fifth in the Purple Cap race.
“Bumrah has a really good unique point – He has got a distinct advantage compared to other pacers due to his release point. I won’t talk about Sunil Narine. It’s wrong according to my policy. Narine was also getting hit 2-3 seasons ago. This season he’s been outstanding. But let’s not get into that topic,” Ashwin said on YouTube.
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Ravichandran Ashwin struggles
While Ashwin himself has endured a lean patch with the ball, managing just two wickets in nine games, his contributions remain valuable for Rajasthan Royals. The Royals currently sit atop the IPL 2024 points table, demonstrating their collective strength despite Ashwin’s personal struggles.
Contrasting Fortunes
Interestingly, the contrasting fortunes of Bumrah and Narine’s respective teams paint a different picture. Despite Bumrah’s individual brilliance, Mumbai Indians languish at the bottom of the table. Conversely, Narine’s all-round performance has propelled Kolkata Knight Riders to the second position.
Ashwin’s focus remains on his own team’s success and avoiding past controversies. He acknowledges the bowling prowess of both Bumrah and Narine, but chooses to keep his opinions on Narine’s action to himself.
