IPL 2020: DC looking to give Ravi Ashwin adequate rest before his comeback

Shreyas Iyer, the Delhi Capitals’ skipper, said that Ravi Ashwin will be rested for around two to three matches before being included back in the playing eleven. The veteran spinner sustained a shoulder injury during the Capitals’ opening match against Kings XI Punjab (KXIP). He tumbled on the ground while trying to stop the ball after which he went off the park.

In that game, Ashwin bowled one over, gave away two runs and picked up Karun Nair and Nicholas Pooran’s wickets. The Capitals went on to win the match in Super Over after Kagiso Rabada and Marcus Stoinis’ heroics. Before DC’s game against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Dubai, Iyer said that Ashwin has been undergoing a fast recovery and has hit the gym as well.

Amit Mishra in for Ravi Ashwin against CSK

“Ashwin, I feel is doing pretty well, but we wanted to give him a 2-3 game rest so that he feels better. He’s doing well in the gym,” Iyer was quoted as saying at the toss of the match in Dubai. Even as Ashwin missed out, he was replaced by Amit Mishra, who’s the most successful spinner and overall, the second-highest wicket-taker in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Before the match against CSK, Mohammad Kaif, DC’s assistant coach stated that the bowler started to go to practice and was being monitored. A call regarding his participation was to be taken before the game and in the end, Ashwin ended up missing the contest.

“Ashwin is going for practice today and we haven’t taken a call yet if he is going to be available or not for tomorrow’s game. We will see how the practice goes. We are monitoring him very closely,” Kaif had said in a video conference.

“If he is not fit to play tomorrow, we have Amit Mishra who is a very experienced player. He has been doing well in IPL. So yes, that’s a plus point in this squad that we have got a replacement ready,” he added.

Ashwin is one of the most successful spinners in the history of the IPL and is more than a handy batsman lower down the order. Earlier, Ashwin also tweeted, saying that he was in pain, but has managed to get quite well.