After a celebrated career that wrapped up with a headline‑making retirement from the IPL, Ravichandran Ashwin has also left a series of memorable controversies behind him. Here’s an alternative angle that examines his most provocative moments, rearranging the narrative to emphasize the strategic edge he often used to court controversy.
The first spotlight falls on the 2019 season, where a misinterpretation of the run‑out laws by Ashwin triggered outrage. Fielding for Rajasthan Royals against Kings XI Punjab, Ashwin backed a crucial catch from the boundary, only to suggest that Jos Buttler had abandoned his crease. The judge’s decision—approval of a run‑print via the third umpire—turned a routine dismissal into a viral discussion about fair play, fan backlash, and the biting frustrations of home‑grown talent.
In the 2021 clash between Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders, Ashwin’s batting spell was marred by aggressive interactions. Notably, he scored a paltry nine runs before being dismissed, and was later involved in an exchange about an over‑throw that involved KKR’s Rishabh Pant. The affair saw Ashwin asserting that the ball should go to the bat, leading to a crosstalk with the captain and forcing the captain to step into the fray, exemplifying how even a good shot can open a Pandora’s box of argument.
More recently, in 2022, Ashwin became the first player to formally retire out during an IPL match, putting the Royals in a strategic alleyways. With the game finely balanced, Ashwin curtailed his innings at the 19th over to stop the loss of a run‑out buffer on the side. The decision—a mix of tactical judgement and personal preference—proved decisive, as the Royals eventually won by three runs, a razor‑thin margin that underlined the gamble’s significance.