Ashwin getting one over must be due to nature of track: Rahane

Ashwin was given just one over, the 16th of Mumbai Indians innings, by Pune and India limited over skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and Rahane said the track’s nature, different from the batsmen-friendly pitches of recent vintage, must have prompted the move though he added he really cannot answer it for certain. 

“I don’t know (the reason), the captain must be knowing that. This was a different wicket as compared to the wickets we played on against the West Indies (in the WT20 semifinals on March 31) or even the ODI (5th and final in October) against South Africa,” said Rahane after the Pune side thrashed  defending champions Mumbai by nine wickets on Saturday night. 

“This was a slightly seamer-friendly wicket. Ashwin is an experienced bowler, a quality bowler. (But) today I felt our fast bowlers were bowling really well. It was important to take the wickets and not give many runs,” said Rahane. 

Ashwin got the wicket of Ambati Rayudu with his first ball and then gave away seven runs after being belatedly introduced by skipper Dhoni in the lone over he bowled. The same bowler bowled only two overs in one spell in the WT20 semifinal against the West Indies at the same venue against eventual champions West Indies. 

Rahane’s classy, unbeaten 66 in 42 balls, and opening stand of 78 with South African Faf du Plessis (34) guided the Pune team past the modest target of 122 with 32 balls to spare.