Ravichandran Ashwin, who is dubbed as India’s ‘cricket scientist, said that he wants to keep experimenting without worrying much about the criticism. The off-spinner is in action on Tuesday as the Rajasthan Royals take on the Gujarat Titans in the Qualifier 1 of IPL 2022 at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata. 

Ashwin was prmoted to No 3 in RR’s game against the Delhi Capitals. He smashed 50 runs off 38 balls. In the team’s last game, vs Chennai Super Kings, the off-spinner was named the player of the match owing to a 23-ball 40, including two boundaries and three maximums, and 1/28 with the ball. He has so far scored 183 runs and picked 11 wickets in 14 matches this season. 

Also read: Velocity register T20 Challenge’s highest run-chase vs Supernovas

“This is one very different year as far as I am concerned as a cricketer and a person. Truth be told, this has easily been one of the happiest years of my experience at the IPL,” Ashwin told Rajasthan Royals’ social media team in an interview.

The 35-year-old has experimented a lot with his bowling. Predominantly an off-spinner, he also tried leg-spin and bowled googlies. 

Also read: Harmanpreet takes a one-handed stunner to dismiss Shafali Verma | Watch

Talking about his role as a pinch-hitter, Ashwin said, “Nothing to do with performance and qualifications. It is about how much I have enjoyed in terms of performance. The day I stop experimenting, the day I stop losing the passion for that, is the day I will be done with game.”

He is India’s second-highest wicket-taker in Tests. The spinner was also selected for India’s T20 squad for the world cup last year. 

“I have been able to my thought processes to a different level this year. How do I coin this, it’s tricky? They call it freedom of expression,” Ashwin continued. 

Also read: AB de Villers ‘will definitely be around IPL 2023’, wants to return to Bangalore

Ashwin had earlier this season delivered a brilliant delivery to dismiss KKR’s Andre Russell. 

 “I am one of those very lucky few people who have found the purpose of life. The happiest moment for me was dismissing Russell in the KKR game. I genuinely believed that turned the tide. Previous day at practice, I worked on running from different angles over the wicket. First time I executed that, the game was in balance and he got out, then Yuzi hattrick happened. From that moment I felt things are meant to be,” he said.