IPL 2018: Captains and their favorite oppositions

#7 – Ravichandran Ashwin (vs Delhi Daredevils and Kolkata Knight Riders)

Ravichandran Ashwin will look to strike big against KKR and DD again

After a long time, an IPL team will have a bowling captain. Ravichandran Ashwin has risen through the ranks from being Chennai Super Kings’ star bowler to leading the Kings XI Punjab side. The off-spinner is expected to play a massive role to turn his team’s fortunes around as Punjab have failed to make it to the playoffs since 2014.

Ashwin has the ability to pick wickets and contain runs as well, having many variations that help him in doing so. Batsmen are made to think twice while playing him as not many have succeeded individually against him.

In this case, there is an exception. Ashwin has not one, but two equally favorite oppositions. He has picked 18 wickets on aggregate against both Delhi Daredevils and Kolkata Knight Riders. He has slightly better returns against Delhi, playing 14 games against them and having an economy rate of 5.98. As compared to 15 games against KKR in which he has an economy rate of 6.56.

Punjab beat Delhi in their first game of the IPL 2018 and could be more confident than ever to break their drought against Kolkata this time around.