Well said Ravi Ashwin

[Texy]

 

Edited February 24 by Texy

[putrevus]

Match was lost by bowling too you can’t let teams get away from 20/3 and end up with 187. 
 

Yesterday SA bowlers proved the myth that this stadium was bowl first and win the match ground.

 

Indian bowlers for too long have hidden under dew nonsense. 

 

Second thing this match proved again how little the team prepares under this coach and TM.Gambhir was a fraud and is a fraud who got the coaching gig by playing jingoism card.

 

This moron Gambhir has destroyed the team , Axar is one guy in this team who has spine and can play under pressure was left out for a useless fellow like Sundar.

 

Ashwin is too classy to point out name but what he is inferring here is Gambhir’s inability to do his job.

Edited February 23 by putrevus

[straighttalk]

11 hours ago, putrevus said:

Match was lost by bowling too you can’t let teams get away from 20/3 and end up with 187. 
 

Yesterday SA bowlers proved the myth that this stadium was bowl first and win the match ground.

 

Indian bowlers for too long have hidden under dew nonsense. 

 

Second thing this match proved again how little the team prepares under this coach and TM.Gambhir was a fraud and is a fraud who got the coaching gig by playing jingoism card.

 

This moron Gambhir has destroyed the team , Axar is one guy in this team who has spine and can play under pressure was left out for a useless fellow like Sundar.

 

Ashwin is too classy to point out name but what he is inferring here is Gambhir’s inability to do his job.

Sundar isn't useless but agree with everything else. Putting the team with lefties and not being flexible with batting order is the main issue.

[Ultimate_Game]

5 hours ago, straighttalk said:

Sundar isn't useless but agree with everything else. Putting the team with lefties and not being flexible with batting order is the main issue.

 

In LOIs he's useless.

[singhvivek141]

17 hours ago, putrevus said:

Match was lost by bowling too you can’t let teams get away from 20/3 and end up with 187. 

 

And the reason this happened is coz apart from Bumrah there is no one capable enough in this team.

We need good bowlers around him, but all he get is dum dums who are clueless under pressure and on unhelpful pitches.

 

Considering Sundar vs Axar...Sundar is always a player for longest format, Axar is more suited for shorter versions...mixing them isnt right. Its like asking Shami to bowl in T20s, when we know thats his weakest format.

[Ultimate_Game]

33 minutes ago, singhvivek141 said:

 

And the reason this happened is coz apart from Bumrah there is no one capable enough in this team.

We need good bowlers around him, but all he get is dum dums who are clueless under pressure and on unhelpful pitches.

 

Considering Sundar vs Axar...Sundar is always a player for longest format, Axar is more suited for shorter versions...mixing them isnt right. Its like asking Shami to bowl in T20s, when we know thats his weakest format.

 

Sometimes you wonder what goes on in the team management's mind and what do they actually see? We can see sitting on our couch that Sundar is a misfit in LOIs and that Axar is leaps and bounds better T20 player than Sundar. Or Jaiswal and Parag should be in the setup. Or that Iyer deserves to be in the team instead of SKY. And yet we get selections like Sundar over Axar, or Gill over Jaiswal, or backing of SKY and Iyer nowhere in the team, or backing Sundar over someone like Parag. I've no idea what the team management and selectors are doing or thinking.

[Gollum]

One more video came out, Ashwin talked about how it is a mistake for Varun to go round the stumps to LHBs because of his release point (straight, with arm almost touching ear), gave the example of how he fared against Chapman in the NZ series. Every time he went over the wicket to LHBs he found success or was hard to hit. Because of the angle which complements his googly...angle works against his googly from round the wicket. What is bowling coach doing?

 

Looping slower ball wide of off-stump (with 2 boundary riders) is another weakness of Abhi.  Despite him being a very strong offside player. Because of his head position, falling over or bobbing back. Ashwin wants him to not hit the ball too hard, and make sure his head doesn't fall back.....he noticed that these are recent chinks which have come up probably because of his lack of runs/confidence. @Nikhil_cric @Lone Wolf @putrevus @rollingstoned you guys also notice this na, I also felt his head position has been very iffy this time. 

 

He praised Ngidi a lot despite him being wicketless. Called him the POTM, that he outbowled even Bumrah and helped others take wickets. 

 

It was a low bounce but skiddy black soil pitch and batsmen couldn't get elevation against balls pitched up, Saffers realized that after Markram's dismissal against Arshdeep...but Indian bowlers didn't latch on to that, gave an example of Hardik's last over. Saffers executed the plans accordingly and went full against us (with nice change-up of pace), and challenged us to hit over the top....and we found it very difficult. He praised their bowling plans to SKY, especially the lengths. 

 

Edited February 24 by Gollum

[Vk1]

59 minutes ago, Gollum said:

One more video came out, Ashwin talked about how it is a mistake for Varun to go round the stumps to LHBs because of his release point (straight, with arm almost touching ear), gave the example of how he fared against Chapman in the NZ series. Every time he went over the wicket to LHBs he found success or was hard to hit. Because of the angle which complements his googly...angle works against his googly from round the wicket. What is bowling coach doing?

 

 

 

 

Does Morkel know abc of spin bowling. I doubt that. Varun is on his own. 

[Gollum]

8 minutes ago, Vk1 said:

 

Does Morkel know abc of spin bowling. I doubt that. Varun is on his own. 

But these are basic things, easy to catch. 

[putrevus]

9 hours ago, singhvivek141 said:

 

And the reason this happened is coz apart from Bumrah there is no one capable enough in this team.

We need good bowlers around him, but all he get is dum dums who are clueless under pressure and on unhelpful pitches.

 

Considering Sundar vs Axar...Sundar is always a player for longest format, Axar is more suited for shorter versions...mixing them isnt right. Its like asking Shami to bowl in T20s, when we know thats his weakest format.

Sundar is not longest format bowler either, it was proved emphatically in SA series. But that is a discussion for another day.

 

I agree we need good bowlers around Bumrah, what are so called great coach and Selector Agarkar who was hailed as hero by many here doing then.Varun, Kuldeep or even Axar have no answer if batsmen attack them and it is not a new news.We cannot even blame injuries as excuse like we had in 2022 when Bumrah was out.

 

Bumrah and prayer will not win you cups was my view from the beginning when everyone was proclaiming this t20 team as great team.

 

BTW what was coach doing when it was clear they were not winning the match.Did he ask his team to get closer?

 

A extra bowler might win you matches but extra batsman will never win you anything.Adding Axar and Kuldeep would give some spine to the bowling.

 

Rinku is an excess which has been proved again and again.It is clear coach does not want him to bat at number 5 even when team is in trouble. Kuldeep in his place is always better option even if the tail becomes longer.

 

This Indian team is not out hitting any teams.So better make bowling stronger.Any sane coach should know it based on matches so far.

Edited February 24 by putrevus

[jf1gp_1]

On 2/23/2026 at 10:47 AM, Texy said:

 

While what he said is correct my question is given the team why did they not push rinku instead of sundar.he is a good player of spin would have got a few deliveries to settle down and has the potential to close the job.

[zen]

There is a difference between theories and practice. Ashwin himself has been smashed multiple times despite knowing what to do most of the time. 
 

A good way is to step back to see cricket as a game not a video game. Many great minds have been humbled by the game including Don Bradman who could not score 4 runs, iirc, to not end up with an average of 100. 
 

The goal should be field your best 11 - left/right, x/y/z, etc., are simply tactics. If a player is playing well he wil most likely do well whether he is a left hander or a right hander, a spinner or a pacer, etc. 

[rollingstoned]

7 hours ago, Gollum said:

One more video came out, Ashwin talked about how it is a mistake for Varun to go round the stumps to LHBs because of his release point (straight, with arm almost touching ear), gave the example of how he fared against Chapman in the NZ series. Every time he went over the wicket to LHBs he found success or was hard to hit. Because of the angle which complements his googly...angle works against his googly from round the wicket. What is bowling coach doing?

 

Looping slower ball wide of off-stump (with 2 boundary riders) is another weakness of Abhi.  Despite him being a very strong offside player. Because of his head position, falling over or bobbing back. Ashwin wants him to not hit the ball too hard, and make sure his head doesn't fall back.....he noticed that these are recent chinks which have come up probably because of his lack of runs/confidence. @Nikhil_cric @Lone Wolf @putrevus @rollingstoned you guys also notice this na, I also felt his head position has been very iffy this time. 

 

He praised Ngidi a lot despite him being wicketless. Called him the POTM, that he outbowled even Bumrah and helped others take wickets. 

 

It was a low bounce but skiddy black soil pitch and batsmen couldn't get elevation against balls pitched up, Saffers realized that after Markram's dismissal against Arshdeep...but Indian bowlers didn't latch on to that, gave an example of Hardik's last over. Saffers executed the plans accordingly and went full against us (with nice change-up of pace), and challenged us to hit over the top....and we found it very difficult. He praised their bowling plans to SKY, especially the lengths. 

 

Yep that issue of his is exacerbated by his lack of form. He has to take time and target other areas. 

Agree on the match, we didn't respond to conditions at all while Saf played a tactical masterclass. ngidi has one of the best slower balls in the world now up there with Ellis, Bumrah etc. 

[putrevus]

7 hours ago, Gollum said:

One more video came out, Ashwin talked about how it is a mistake for Varun to go round the stumps to LHBs because of his release point (straight, with arm almost touching ear), gave the example of how he fared against Chapman in the NZ series. Every time he went over the wicket to LHBs he found success or was hard to hit. Because of the angle which complements his googly...angle works against his googly from round the wicket. What is bowling coach doing?

 

Looping slower ball wide of off-stump (with 2 boundary riders) is another weakness of Abhi.  Despite him being a very strong offside player. Because of his head position, falling over or bobbing back. Ashwin wants him to not hit the ball too hard, and make sure his head doesn't fall back.....he noticed that these are recent chinks which have come up probably because of his lack of runs/confidence. @Nikhil_cric @Lone Wolf @putrevus @rollingstoned you guys also notice this na, I also felt his head position has been very iffy this time. 

 

He praised Ngidi a lot despite him being wicketless. Called him the POTM, that he outbowled even Bumrah and helped others take wickets. 

 

It was a low bounce but skiddy black soil pitch and batsmen couldn't get elevation against balls pitched up, Saffers realized that after Markram's dismissal against Arshdeep...but Indian bowlers didn't latch on to that, gave an example of Hardik's last over. Saffers executed the plans accordingly and went full against us (with nice change-up of pace), and challenged us to hit over the top....and we found it very difficult. He praised their bowling plans to SKY, especially the lengths. 

 

Ngidi may not look world class but he chips in at very important stages.Even in ICC test finals it was his spell which brought SA back into the match by knocking off middle order and Steve Smith.

 

With his height his slower balls become more effective.

 

Bumrah was magnificient, he not only matched Ngidi but also took 3 wickets. 4-0-15-3. SA scored 187. 

 

 You cannot blame Pandya his skills are limited asking to bowl 20 over was always risky.

 

Indian spinners never have plan b .Varun should have slowed down instead of rushing thru his overs also.What was captain doing, where was he when his star bowler was getting hit.His captaincy was awful.

 

BTW David Miller looks like he is on a mission.SA knew they choked in finals but they have come back stronger.

 

 

Edited February 24 by putrevus

[figo6762]

Other teams are allowed to play well … but roles are important .. removing axar was big f’up .. sundar just come in 2 games ago  from injury . Bring him in and sit Axar out is just stupid . If anything they should played both . Sit Rinku put . The 2-3 ball sixes flukes  Axar and sundar can do it as well 

[randomGuy]

The captain doesn't justify his place.

[Gollum]

 

 

Edited February 28 by Gollum

[Gollum]

Ashwin was a bit nervous about the WI match but felt confident of us taking Eng down in Wankhede. From his video 2-3 days back. 

[Ultimate_Game]

Just now, Gollum said:

Ashwin was a bit nervous about the WI match but felt confident of us taking Eng down in Wankhede. From his video 2-3 days back. 

 

I don't know man. Wankhede is much more toss dependent than Eden Gardens. If the dew sets in at Wankhede you may as well hand the match at the time of the toss.

 

It's unfortunate that dew plays such a huge role in the outcome. I would have the knockouts changed to a day game to take dew out of the equation to take toss out of the equation. That's why I liked 2024 WT20 as toss and dew were not a major factor. Wish we had the same here.

[Gollum]

6 minutes ago, Ultimate_Game said:

 

I don't know man. Wankhede is much more toss dependent than Eden Gardens. If the dew sets in at Wankhede you may as well hand the match at the time of the toss.

 

It's unfortunate that dew plays such a huge role in the outcome. I would have the knockouts changed to a day game to take dew out of the equation to take toss out of the equation. That's why I liked 2024 WT20 as toss and dew were not a major factor. Wish we had the same here.

Dew hasn't been a major problem this time, because of the new anti-dew spray they are using. 

 

Yesterday also dew fell but much lesser than usual, as per Chahal. 

 

Mumbai mein zyada dew dikha nahi is baar.