Day 40 of IPL 2021

Sanjay Manjrekar gave a controversial statement on Ravi Ashwin

From not featuring in a single Test match in the United Kingdom against England to making it to India's T20 World Cup 2021 squad, it has been quite a dramatic year for Ravichandran Ashwin.

The off-spinner earned the nod of selectors with his consistent performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Delhi Capitals (DC) over a couple of seasons, but Sanjay Manjrekar doesn't feel Ashwin has a place in T20 cricket, at least as far as he is concerned.

Ashwin remains an off-spinner originally but in T20 cricket, he is hardly seen bowling the traditional off-spinners. Be it carom ball or a number of other variations, Ashwin has re-invented himself to find fit into the shortest format of the game.

Ashwin looked in fine form as the Delhi Capitals reached the IPL 2020 final, bagging 13 wickets in 15 matches last year, but wasn't as productive this time around.

In 13 matches this year, he only bagged 7 wickets, raising questions among experts as to whether the selectors' decision to include him in the T20 World Cup squad was the right one. Manjrekar, however, has asserted that Ashwin as a T20 bowler doesn't fit into his team.

"We have spent far too much talking about Ashwin. Ashwin, the T20 bowler, is not a great force in any team. And if you want Ashwin to change, I don't think that's going to happen because he's been like this for the last five-seven years. I can understand us dwelling on Ashwin in Test matches where he's fantastic. Him not playing a single Test match in England was a travesty. But to spend so much time on Ashwin when it comes to IPL and T20 cricket," Manjrekar said on ESPNCricinfo.

"I think he has shown us in the last five years that he's bowled exactly the same and I would never have somebody like Ashwin in my team because if I got turning pitches, I would expect people like Varun Chakravarthy or Sunil Narine or [Yuzvendra] Chahal and how they do their job, they get you wickets," he added.

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As per the latest developments, KL Rahul is all set to part ways with Punjab Kings ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021. It’s indeed a shocking report as Rahul has been one of the most consistent performers in IPL over the years. The dashing opener can accumulate quick runs despite playing risk-free cricket. Moreover, he’s also a more than handy wicketkeeper.

For the unversed, Rahul joined the Punjab-based franchise ahead of the 2018 edition. The right-handed batter lived to the expectations of the franchise and played one scintillating knock after another. He crossed the 600-run mark in three of the four seasons he played for PBKS. 2019 was the only edition where Rahul couldn’t cross the mark. Still, he accumulated 593 runs this season.

His consistency with the bat also earned Rahul Punjab’s captaincy ahead of the 2020 edition. With Rahul being a proven star of this format, many believed he would be PBKS’ first retention ahead of the mega auction next season. However, Cricbuzz reported the batter is set to leave the franchise and will be up for grabs in the auction event.

3. Royal Challengers Bangalore

Rahul and RCB’s reunion might well be destined. Ahead of the UAE leg of IPL 2021, Virat Kohli announced that he’ll step down as RCB captain after the completion of the competition. Among the current players, AB de Villiers, Glenn Maxwell and Yuzvendra Chahal are the only potential candidates to be Kohli’s successor.

However, De Villiers is in the latter stage of his career while Chahal’s leadership skills aren’t known much. Although Maxwell has done well this season, teams are skeptical of appointing a foreign player as a skipper. Hence, RCB have all the reasons to break their bank in case, Rahul lands in the auction pool.

It has to be noted that Rahul emerged as a T20 player in IPL 2016. He played for RCB in that season and what followed next is hidden from none. Hence, Rahul won’t mind serving the franchise he started his IPL career with.

2. Sunrisers Hyderabad

IPL 2021 was nothing but forgettable for Sunrisers Hyderabad. The 2016-season champions failed to identify their best combination and endured one humiliating loss after another. In order to change their fortunes, the team management sacked David Warner as skipper midway, handing over the reins to Kane Williamson.

However, the New Zealander couldn’t do much either. His batting show was also mediocre and SRH aren’t like to retain him ahead of the mega auction either. Hence, like RCB, SRH are also in the hunt for a captain. KL Rahul might well end their quest as he can lead a side, open the innings and keep the wickets.

Moreover, having a local player as captain would allow SRH to field their best set of foreign players. Something the Orange Army hasn’t been able to do in the past few years.

1. Kolkata Knight Riders

Kolkata Knight Riders’ journey in IPL 2021 has been nothing but astonishing. Having lost five of their first seven games, the two-time champions seemed down and out at the time of season suspension. However, they made a jaw-dropping comeback in the UAE leg and secured a place in the playoffs.

While many players stood up for KKR this year, skipper Eoin Morgan wasn’t one of them. The England international was woefully out of form with the bat and earned criticism from different parts. With Morgan turning 36 later this year and a handful of players allowed to retain, the Shah Rukh Khan-owned franchise doesn’t have many reasons to retain the southpaw.

Owing to the same, KL Rahul would be on KKR’s radar. The star batter can be given the leadership role if the side decides to undergo a revamp. Also, the presence of Rahul and Andre Russell in one batting line-up would instill fears in minds of opposition bowlers.

Recently, Gautam Gambhir also Makes BIG Comment on KL Rahul Ahead of T20 World Cup:

“If you can bat like this, why don’t you bat like this? And if he can bat like this, probably he has got more ability than Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. I am not saying it just because I have seen KL Rahul doing it today; he just has it. He has got more shots than anyone else in India. And he has shown it today,” Gambhir told ESPNCricinfo after witnessing Rahul’s heroics against Chennai.

Gambhir urged him to not shy away from playing his shots as he has the ability. He also reckoned in the future people will talk more about Rahul.

“Just go play, man. Let the world cherish, not only India. Show this world your ability. When people talk about Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, probably people will talk more about you because you have got many more shots as compared to anyone else in India,” Gambhir explained.

In the upcoming T20 WC, Rahul is expected to open alongside Rohit.

Meanwhile, all three players happen to be captains of the respective franchises in the IPL. Now, with the IPL having reached its playoffs stage and only Kohli’s RCB has made it. Rahul’s Punjab or Rohit’s Mumbai failed to make the cut.