Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has indirectly taken a dig at former West Indies international Sunil Narine over his bowling action. If there has been one mystery spinner who has ruled the world of T20 cricket since 2012, it has to be Narine, as he has delivered match-winning performances in various franchise leagues so far.
Sunil Narine’s action has been one of the most talked about actions, there is debate on whether he is chucking. After being first reported for a suspected illegal action on 29 September 2014 during the Champions League T20, he was forced to improve his action and was soon investigated, prompting him to change his action.
Speaking on Star Sports show #CheekySingles, Ashwin was asked about bowling no balls and chucking the ball; The hosts said that spinners are now allowed to chuck the balls. But R Ashwin humorously responded by taking a dig at Narine and saying that not everyone is allowed, and everyone in the show laughed.
Ravichandran Ashwin indirectly took a dig at Sunil Narine
Ashwin later clarified that there is a huge difference between the bat and the ball, he also jokingly said that when the batsman hits a boundary the fans and the crowd applaud and even when the bowler bowls a no-ball the fans and the crowd applaud but when the bowler takes a wicket an opposite scene happens as everyone becomes silent.
Ashwin said, “No, not everyone is allowed. [Laughs] What have I said? tell me. No, no, I mean, it’s nothing. It just slipped out.”
“What I was trying to say is that there is a huge difference now between bat and ball. If a batsman hits a four or a six, everyone applauds. Even if we bowl a no-ball, there is applause on that announcement. But when we actually take a wicket, there is complete silence.”
Interviewer: I think nowadays, chucking is allowed for spinners
Ravichandran Ashwin (laughing): Not everyone is allowed pic.twitter.com/guURYiI5MI
– OldMonkofCricket (@OldMonkOfCric) July 24, 2026
Sunil Narine is the undisputed GOAT of IPL
Sunil Narine was again brought under the scanner in 2015 when he was briefly banned from the IPL. However, five years later in 2020, he was warned but soon acquitted. Despite all the struggles and changes in bowling action over the years, Narine remains one of the greatest cricketers of all time to play T20 cricket.
The West Indies spinner is the only cricketer to win three Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards and Player of the Tournament awards in IPL history, and all for one franchise, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). He won in 2012, 2018 and 2024.
He is the leading wicket-taker for a single franchise with 207 wickets in 202 matches. The experienced all-rounder became the first overseas bowler and third player overall to reach the milestone of 200 wickets in the tournament and also became the third highest wicket-taker overall in the history of the tournament. It showcases his talent and the legacy he still maintains.
Sunil Narine’s recent form
Recently, Sunil Narine won the Player of the Tournament (Most Valuable Player) award in the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2026 with KKR’s sister franchise in the MLC, which is Los Angeles Knight Riders.
He finished as the joint-highest wicket-taker for Los Angeles Knight Riders, taking 18 wickets in 11 matches, who are the champions of MLC 2026.