Former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin took his first steps into the commentary box on Saturday, offering his expert analysis during the IPL 2026 season opener between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
Known for his straightforward approach, Ashwin confidently predicted a victory for Sunrisers, highlighting the potential of Ishan Kishan’s team to thrive at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
As the game was about to kick off, Virender Sehwag gave Ashwin a warm, senior-like introduction—guiding the newcomer into the commentary box with ease.
A captivating conversation ensued between the two cricket legends, with the former India opener placing the retired off-spinner at the center of attention. When Aakash Chopra inquired, "Haan ji, dabaav kis pe zyada hai? (Who is feeling the greater pressure today?)", it sparked a wave of uncontrollable laughter.
Sehwag: "Toh bhai mujhe toh lag raha hai ki aaj dabaav saara Ashwin ke upar hai. Yeh nayi murgi hai. (I believe all the pressure is on Ashwin today, after all, he's the newcomer)
Ashwin: "Maine bada prediction bhi kiya hai aaj SRH ka... SRH dhoom machayenge. (I've made a bold prediction for SRH today... they’re going to shine)"
Sehwag: "Woh toh tu waise bhi karta hai dressing room mein baith ke. (You do that all the time while you're in the dressing room)" The former opener then shared a nostalgic tale from Ashwin’s days as captain.
Sehwag: "Ek baar, mujhe yaad hai Ashwin captain tha, toh mere saath dressing room mein baitha hua tha. Bola, 'Paaji yaar, off-spinner aa gaya, main kya karoon?' Maine kaha, 'Tu ja, pehli ball se ghuma.' (I recall when Ashwin was captain, he was sitting next to me in the dressing room. He asked, 'Paaji, an off-spinner is on, what should I do?' I told him, 'Just go out there and attack from the first ball.)"
Sehwag: "Teen-chaar over ho gaye, koi out nahi hua. Hum gappe maarte rahe. Finally, koi out hua toh Ashwin gaya. Pehli ball hat ke maar raha tha, out ho ke wapas aa ke baitha. Bola, 'Nahi, itna aasaan nahi hai.' Maine kaha, 'Haan, itna aasaan nahi hai.' (Three or four overs went by without any wickets, so we continued chatting. Eventually, someone got out, and Ashwin went in. He attempted to make room to hit the first ball but got dismissed. He came back, sat down, and said, 'No, it's not that easy.' I responded, 'Exactly, it's not that simple.)
Aakash Chopra: "Off-spinner bhi achhe gendbaaz hote hain. (Off-spinners are skilled bowlers as well.)"
As Ashwin started to reply, Sehwag intervened: "Out bhi off-spinner ko hi hue thhe. (He was dismissed by an off-spinner as well.)"
Ashwin: "Bowler kaun tha pata hai? K. Gowtham tha. (Do you know who the bowler was? It was K. Gowtham.)"
Meanwhile, R Ashwin recently agreed to play in the Major League Cricket.