IPL 2016: Ravichandran Ashwin feels IPL has changed perception about spinners in T20s
Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin said spinners were undervalued in T20 and that the IPL has been instrumental in changing the perception across the globe.
Ashwin, who is currently playing for the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led Rising Pune Supergiants in this edition of the league, felt that teams have started to trust the ability of the spinners in the shortest format of the game.
"I think initially people never gave spinners a chance. They thought spinners will just be hammered all over the park. That has changed over the last six to seven years of the IPL, and even in T20 cricket across the globe. Teams started to believe in what the spinners could bring to the table. But at this stage, as we speak, T20 cricket has changed I have no doubt that the game has definitely gone to the next plateau," he said, in an interview with ESPNCricinfo.
On being asked what difference he sees between finger spinners and wrist spinners in terms of taking wickets and economy, he said that it does not matter what the action is, adding that the versatility and adaptability one shows ultimately counts.
He also added that since the bowlers are involved only for a short time in T20s, it depends on how much they are going to understand this situation and execute their best at that stage without fear or hindrance.
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Ashwin agreed that there are habits that have to be changed while going from one format to the other. "From my own perspective, the speeds with which I bowl change, not just from one format to another but from one ground to another. There is a natural length that every bowler hits, but you have to change the lengths because the ground is smaller.
"Spinners are increasingly starting to bowl short (in T20s), which means they are taking the straight boundaries away. When you play Test match cricket, you can't bowl short. That is the difference."
However, Ashwin felt that cricket does not give much back to the bowlers. But, he said that though it has been called a batsman's game, bowlers have repeatedly found ways to dismiss them and that it is a balanced act.
Ashwin became the top spinner in the world at the end of 2015 and was in a sensational form during the series against Sri Lanka in February, but of late hasn't been given the chance to complete his full quota in a match. This has happened in ten of the last 19 games he has played, and Indian skipper Dhoni has been criticised for underutilising the ace spinner.