MS Dhoni not Lacking Faith in Ravichandran Ashwin: Ajit Agarkar

By: Tarish Bhatt

Why MS Dhoni is under-utilising off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin? This question is now being asked in almost every game of Rising Pune Supergiants.

In the last game against Royal Challengers Bangalore, Ashwin bowled just one over, raising speculations that Dhoni might have lost faith in his premier spinner. This, however, is not the case according to Ajit Agarkar.

Agarkar said that because of the conditions Dhoni has under-bowled Ashwin, who used to be the frontline bowler for his captain in Chennai Super Kings.

“At times it may seem odd but I don’t think it is due to any lack of faith,” Agarkar said. “When Pune came to Mumbai (last month), it was a seamers’ wicket and Ashwin’s bowling was not needed.”

“You have to remember that when the IPL games were played in spin-friendly conditions in Chennai, he used to open the bowling,” the former India pacer added. “The conditions matter.”

So far this season, Ashwin has remained largely ineffective with the ball, picking just three wickets, despite featuring in all ten games of side. The off-spinner has bowled 30 overs out of his full quota of 40, and is averaging 72.