Ravichandran Ashwin

Over the years, Ravichandran Ashwin has developed himself into an all-rounder who bats right-handed and bowls right-arm off-break. His consistency and exemplary performance in T20 formats earned him a national call-up in early 2010. He is the fastest bowler to reach 350 Test wickets and has 30 five-wicket hauls in Tests. Ashwin is known for his famous carrom ball, which he picked up from the streets of Chennai. Ashwin's intelligent variations and the unique ability to deceive batters makes him an asset to have in any team, irrespective of the format. Which is why, when the Royals bought him at the 2022 mega auction, many felt it was a masterstroke. A seasoned off-spinner on the international as well as the IPL level, Ashwin didn't just bring his off-spin prowess to the Royals, but also his openness to experimentation and the willingness to go the extra mile. While he did have a decent outing with the ball, it was his batting that left a mark this season. 191 runs - the highest he's scored in the IPL, a maiden fifty and helpful cameos at promoted batting slots, and the first-ever "retired-out"in the history of the tournament - Ashwin was everywhere.