There cannot be a more legendary combination in Indian cricket in recent times than Ravichandran Ashwin and Raindra Jadeja. Or as in famed words of the Chennai cricketer who never misses pop film culture references, Indran-Chandran (the legendary characters of Rajinikanth in the film Thillu Mullu).
The coming together of Ashwin and Jadeja again after their remarkable run together in CSK's yellow between 2012 and 2015 is the stuff of this league's history. As a report in ESPN Cricnfo said, Ashwin and Jadeja, in tandem, had scalped 55 wickets each in 67 IPL matches in that period. At their home ground, the spin aces helped the team win 18 of the 25 matches played.
Ashwin was let go in 2015 by CSK, and after seasons with Punjab, Delhi and Rajasthan, He is back at Chennai this season after he was picked for a substantial Rs 9.75 crore. The duo joining forces again was expected to be CSK's trump card.
Alas, we all know, that is not the case. CSK has lost 3 matches on the bounce in Chennai. Overall, it has lost 5 of the 6 games so far. Worse, the ace allrounders have become mighty ineffective. Both with the bat and the ball.
The numbers are sorry. Ashwin has managed only 5 wickets in 5 matches, with an economy rate nearing 10 runs per over. His economy rate in the powerplay is a worrisome 15.60 --- 78 runs in 30 balls. In comparison, his earlier career powerplay economy was 6.25. Including the last match, Ashwin has completed his full quota of overs in only 3 out of 6 matches.
Jaddu's stats are even more modest. Prior to the KKR match last night, he had taken just 2 wickets in 5 matches, with an economy rate of 8.07. Last night, he started with a no-ball, and his next ball (free-hit) was hit for a six, and the match was over. His match economy rate was: 54.
Jadeja's season has been horrendous. He has not completed his full quota of overs in any match this season, reflecting his diminished role as a strike bowler. Ashwin and Jadeja have also not been helped by fielding lapses. But that is no real reason for their feckless show so far. Their struggles have left CSK's bowling attack vulnerable, especially in the middle overs, where it was once dominant.
In batting, the picture is equally bleak. Both can be classified as all-rounders. Remember Jadeja hit the winning runs in that sensational last-over heist against GT in the finals of 2023. But this season, in 6 matches he has scored a measly 56 runs in total. Ashwin has contributed 43 runs. He was expected to shine with the bat as he had done exceedingly well up the order in batting in TNPL last year.
The duo was dependable middle and late order batters whose batting flourish had saved many a bad day for their teams. Ashwin has also courted controversy with his ill-advised YouTube show during the IPL.
All said and done, both players have struggled to make any contribution, and there is certainly a case for CSK to look past them in their next matches. But will the CSK management bite the bullet and show the place to two of its marquee players? Your guess is as good as ours.