Ahead of the Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) clash against the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League 2023 (IPL 2023), a viral video has surfaced online. The video shows Lasith Malinga, the fast-bowling coach for Rajasthan, bowling off-spin to all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin. The video was shared on Rajasthan Royals’ official social media platforms with a quirky caption, “When you spend too much time with @ashwinravi99.”
The Royals will face off against the Capitals on Saturday at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, which is their second home ground for the 2023 campaign. Rajasthan started the season with a commanding 72-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad but lost their second game inexplicably. However, they will be looking to dust themselves off and return to winning ways against Delhi.
In their previous game, Rajasthan fell just five runs short of their target while chasing 198 against Punjab Kings. Their top scorers were Shimron Hetmyer and skipper Sanju Samson. On the other hand, Delhi Capitals will be under a lot of pressure after losing their first two games. This situation makes the Royals optimistic about pulling out a victory.
Ravichandran Ashwin will be essential for the hosts, and RR’s bowling will be crucial against DC. Ashwin has taken 22 wickets in 20 IPL games against the Capitals, averaging 21.90. He shares this feat with Sunil Narine and Lasith Malinga. The off-spinner has been regarded as one of the best spinners in the IPL, and his 159 wickets from 186 games make him the seventh-highest wicket-taker in IPL history with an average of 28.84 per wicket. Interestingly, Ashwin only needs three more wickets to surpass Harbhajan Singh (24), Dwayne Bravo, Piyush Chawla, and Jasprit Bumrah (23 apiece) as the IPL’s highest wicket-taker against DC.
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The upcoming game between the Royals and the Capitals promises to be an exciting one, with both teams looking to prove their mettle. As for the viral video, it adds an element of fun and unpredictability to the game, leaving fans wondering if Ashwin will unveil some off-spin magic during the match.