Ashwin has bailed me out in a lot of situations: MS Dhoni
In an attempt to dismiss the speculations about his rift with Ravichandran Ashwin, Indian skipper MS Dhoni has disclosed the reason behind his decision to not bowl the offie till the 16th over of the Rising Pune Supergaints' opening clash against Mumbai Indians on Saturday.
“As I have said, Ashwin has bailed me out in a lot of situations — whether bowling in first six or in the slog phase. He is a bowler who can come in and do well at any time.
“It’s a subject, like revealing strategy. Ashwin is a matured bowler. He can bowl at any point of time. I knew the moment they (Mumbai Indians) lost a few wickets there was pressure on their middle or lower middle order,” Dhoni told PTI at a press-conference which was being held to announce him as the brand ambassador of the mobile handset, Lava.
The former CSK captain explained, why he brought on Murugan Ashwin in place of his more famous namesake. He said, “It was a very good platform for leg-spinner Ashwin (1 for 16) to come in. Since you watched the game, you would have seen he is not someone who bowls a lot of short deliveries, but he was feeling the pressure.
“I thought it was more important for me to give him those four overs as in the longer run I need him as a wicket-taking option, and I felt at that point of time if I can give him the four overs it will give him the confidence to come back probably in the second and third game.
“It was a process of giving him confidence, but at the same time we were attacking from the other end, Rajat Bhatia was bowling well using the conditions, that was the reason.
“(Ravi) Ashwin bowled one over and after that I thought going with fast bowlers was a better option”.
The 34-year-old also opened up about how emotional it was for him to walk out on the pitch in Pune's jersey, instead of the yellow attire, he wore for the Chennai Super Kings in the past eight editions of the tournament.
“As I said it was, I knew I would play for the Pune team but the actual moment comes when you start walking with the team-sheet in your hand till that point of time its only practise and everything.
“It was a very emotional moment...since I have started playing T20 cricket represented the Indian cricket team, Jharkhand team in few tournaments and CSK for eight years, so it was a emotional moment not to see myself in yellow,” he quipped.
“But at the same time as professionals, we have to move ahead and also not to prove to anyone but to prove a point to myself that I am making sure whatever I gave in for CSK, I am not leaving any inch that I am not giving for the Pune team,” he said.
“So emotion set aside as professional, we had or I had to make sure that I am there how I was for CSK,” he said.
“So it was a very emotional movement but at the same time I think...the faith that the franchise has shown not only in me but some of the other players also, we need to justify that,” he said.
