'Astonishing': Netizens React As R Ashwin Walks Out To Open The Innings For RR In IPL 2023 Match Against PBKS

In a surprising move, RR decided to send R Ashwin as an opener against PBKS.

RR were forced to think of a new opening batter with Jos Buttler injuring himself while taking a catch.

Source : Twitter/@rajasthanroyals

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is all about surprises. Such is the demand of T20 cricket that franchises often try to outwit the opposition. Perhaps in a bid to do just that, the inaugural champions of the cash-rich league sent off-spinning all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin to open the innings along with Yashasvi Jaiswal.

While they were forced to think of a new opening batter with Jos Buttler injuring himself while taking a catch, they had another top-order specialist batter in Devdutt Padikkal who hasn't quite got going in the middle order who they could have tried. However, they went ahead with Ashwin.

Meanwhile, after Jaiswal's dismissal Ashwin and Jos Buttler even got to bat with each other which also led to hilarious reactions as netizens recalled Ashiwn "mankad" dismissal of the England star in the past.

However, the plan to send Ashwin backfired as the right-handed batter got out for a 3-ball duck trying to clear the infield and get some impetus into the innings, with the team needing 198 to win.

Check out some hilarious reactions here:

So @ashwinravi99 Opening !!!
It's astonishing, what this man can do.
Hope Buttler's injury is not serious. #RRvsPBKS #PBKSvsRR #Ashwin #IPL2023

— Sahilllll (@S4Hillll) April 5, 2023

Butler and Ashwin gonna bat together 😂🤣 RR making things happen#RRvsPBKS #Ashwin

— Shravan (@Sanhin5) April 5, 2023

Ye #Ashwin ko zyda chull nhi lagi rehti batting ki #RRvsPBKS

— Aayush Mittal (@immaayush) April 5, 2023

R Ashwin as an opener?
IPL show its enough😳#Ashwin #RRvPBKS #IPL2023 pic.twitter.com/SSrvplnIGw

— Masum (@masum_twt) April 5, 2023

#Ashwin opening the innings. Audacity level! @IamSanjuSamson 😎😂@ashwinravi99@rajasthanroyals#IPL2023#RRvsPBKS#Ashwin

— Abhishek. (@GG_23112) April 5, 2023

After seeing #Ashwin as opener me be like😳😳#RRvsPBKS pic.twitter.com/imLcVra73U

— Vamc Krishna (@lyf_a_zindagi) April 5, 2023

Ashwin is the best content creator on and off the field on cricket 😂#RRvsPBKS#Ashwin

— Shravan (@Sanhin5) April 5, 2023

After the match, RR captain Sanju Samson explained that they wanted to keep Padikkal for the middle overs as the opposition featured a left-arm spinner and a le-spinner in their ranks.