Team India offspinner R Ashwin, a reported earlier is all set to join Delhi Capitals for IPL 2020. After a couple of years stint with Kings XI Punjab, Ashwin will begin his next IPL association with Delhi.
The Story
Punjab signed Ravichandran Ashwin at the 2018 auction for INR 7.6 crore (then USD 1.176 million approx) and appointed him captain. Under his captaincy, Punjab won 12 of 28 matches and missed the playoffs in both seasons. In those 28 matches for KXIP, Ashwin took 25 wickets and scored 146 runs. The two seasons saw Punjab ending at the bottoms of the table of IPL. So basically the intention of the franchise was to change the core of the team entirely. Changing Ashwin is a part of the same. According to earlier reports, Kings XI Punjab approached Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals for the trade of their former player. Now, although the move would ordinarily be termed a trade, technically, Capitals are buying out the player in an all-cash deal. Apart from Capitals, Sunrisers Hyderabad were also interested in Ashwin at one point, but talks did not progress too far.
What’s Next?
Ashwin’s inclusion in the team would increase Capitals’ tally Indian and overseas spinners already having names like Axar Patel, Amit Mishra, Rahul Tewatia, Jalaj Saxena, Mayank Markande, J Suchith and Sandeep Lamichhane. Delhi will be the fourth IPL franchise for Ashwin, who previously played for Chennai Super Kings, Rising Pune Supergiant and Kings XI. Ashwin, who can be an asset to any team and one of finest spinners of the current Indian team has taken 125 wickets in 139 IPL matches at an economy rate of 6.79, which is the best among all Indian bowlers with 50-plus wickets.
Punjab, on the other hand, have already sacked the entire coaching staff led by New Zealander Mike Hesson. They will soon be looking out for a new head coach and the captain and KL Rahul is their favorite to take up the role of captaincy after Ashwin for Punjab.
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