Veteran India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin suffered a serious injury during Delhi Capitals’ first game of the ongoing season of Indian Premier League against Kings XI Punjab in Dubai on Sunday. The off-spinner, who made a move from KXIP to DC last year, started off his stint with DC on a high, picking up two wickets in his first over itself.
Delhi captain Shreyas Iyer put Ashwin in charge in the 5th over of the innings, and on the first ball itself, the Tamil Nadu bowler sent back Karun Nair to the pavilion. Ashwin teased Nair with a slow delivery, and the batsmen went for a big shot on the leg-side, but could not connect it and the ball was taken by Prithvi Shaw at short fine-leg.
Three deliveries later, Ashwin cleaned up the dangerous Nicholas Pooran with a stunner. The bowler tossed it between middle and leg, and the ball took a sharp turn to clip off the bails.
But in the final delivery of the over, Ashwin tried to dive to save a single from Glenn Maxwell’s shot. But while diving, Ashwin’s left shoulder hit hard on the turf, and it appeared that he has dislocated his shoulder.
Ashwin, visibly looking in pain, and his shoulder being supported by the medical staff, went back to the pavilion immediately afterwards for treatment. An official word on Ashwin’s injury is still being awaited.
Delhi Capitals were asked to bat first by Kings XI Punjab captain KL Rahul and they posted 157/7 in 20 overs, courtesy of a brisk fifty by Marcus Stoinis.
