Ravichandran Ashwin has shared a light-hearted behind-the-scenes tale from his Rajasthan Royals days, describing Yuzvendra Chahal’s unusually bold confidence with the bat and his frequent insistence that he should be given the opening role in IPL matches. The veteran spinner, speaking on JioHotstar’s “Champions Waali Commentary,” painted a picture of team-mate banter that revolved around batting power, pressure situations, and even the idea of Chahal taking on elite pace attacks.
Key takeaways
- Ashwin said Chahal often insisted he was a strong batter during their Rajasthan Royals stint.
- Chahal reportedly claimed he had scored a century in his Under-19 days and felt ready for high-pressure moments.
- Ashwin joked about whether Chahal had the “power” to clear boundaries consistently in T20 cricket.
- Chahal regularly pushed RR management to allow him to open the innings, even when Ashwin was sometimes sent up the order.
- Ashwin added that Chahal’s confidence could be tested when facing rapid bowlers such as Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj.
Chahal’s batting claims and Ashwin’s playful challenge
In the conversation, Ashwin recounted that Chahal would frequently talk up his batting ability, going so far as to express a desire to open the innings for the Royals. Ashwin added that Chahal’s confidence was rooted in what he said he achieved earlier in his career, explaining that Chahal claimed to have batted during his Under-19 days and even scored a hundred. According to Ashwin, Chahal believed he could handle tense phases of a match and step in when the team needed someone to take charge.
Ashwin, however, responded with humour, questioning the practical side of those claims. He framed it as a simple issue of T20 power—suggesting that for Chahal to clear the boundary regularly, he would need the hitting strength to match the demands of big shots.
Opening-batting requests and the pad-removal joke
Ashwin also recalled that Chahal would keep asking Rajasthan Royals management for the chance to bat at the top. Ashwin noted that when he himself was promoted up the order, Chahal would still push his case—sometimes in a teasing way. Ashwin said that while he would usually go on once RR decided to send him higher, Chahal would walk in and ask him to take off his pads because Chahal wanted to go out to bat instead.
“We spent three seasons together at the Rajasthan Royals,” Ashwin said, adding that he noticed the same pattern wherever Chahal ended up—Chahal always appeared to be making a case for opening. The humour continued through the detail of Ashwin padding up for his role, only for Chahal to insist he should be the one to take the batting spot.
Facing pace: Rabada and Siraj in the spotlight
Ashwin’s recollection also included a cheeky comment about Chahal’s willingness to take on top-class pace. He joked that Chahal might end up hurting himself against the sort of speed offered by bowlers like Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj. The remark highlighted Ashwin’s playful approach to Chahal’s batting confidence—acknowledging the swagger while also underlining the risks of meeting express pace head-on.
