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"Help My Home Team": ABD Wants 'Scientist' Ashwin To Play SA20 After IPL Exit

Soumyajit Dutta

Ashwin and AB de Villiers [Source: @MostlyKohli/X.com]Ashwin and AB de Villiers [Source: @MostlyKohli/X.com]

Following his retirement from all forms of cricket, legendary Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is generating significant buzz in the global franchise circuit. Speculation is rife about his next move, with the player himself confirming talks with the UAE's ILT20 organizers. This has sparked excitement among various T20 leagues worldwide, eager to acquire his strategic mastery.

Adding a compelling voice to the conversation, South African icon AB de Villiers openly pitched for Ashwin to join the SA20 league, specifically expressing a desire to see him represent the Pretoria Capitals.

De Villiers Wants Ashwin In His Team

While speaking on his YouTube channel, AB de Villiers stressed that he wanted Ashwin to join his team with full commitment. He also promised that he would “fill Ashwin's ears” to convince him to play for Pretoria Capitals in SA20.

“It will be fantastic for all the teams around the world, including the SA20. Hopefully, he comes to the Pretoria Capitals and helps my home team out. I will definitely be in his ear about coming to play the SA20,” said de Villiers on his YouTube channel.

De Villiers sees Ashwin's value extending far beyond his bowling, envisioning a future role for him as a talent scout or a mentor within a franchise setup.

“He has played a lot of cricket. He may be a scout for some team or a mentor. That sounds like a wonderful job. It is intense as you need to be at all the auctions, all the training sessions and team meetings. But he’ll do a wonderful job of finding talent and urging them in certain directions,” ABD said.

The 'Scientist' Praise For Ashwin

The former Proteas captain reserved his highest praise for Ravichandran Ashwin’s cricketing intellect, bestowing upon him a unique and illustrious title.

“What a scientist, doctor and professor of the game. He always took it to the limit with the rulebook and generally got it right even though it was frowned upon sometimes. I always have respect for guys who study the game and he was one of those players,” said de Villiers.

“Incredible skill and a huge icon in India. He won so many games for Team India and CSK over the years. He also moved to a few other teams but never really settled in those teams. He should have always just stayed at CSK. It wasn’t always up to him obviously, but I’ll always remember him as a yellow jersey guy,” he added.

As Ashwin looks forward for franchise cricket, de Villiers' wish might come true given the possibilities Ashwin would like to explore post his IPL retirement.