Speaking on his YouTube show Ash Ki Baat, Ashwin said: “There is one thing I want to see. Who dares to do that? If Tariq pauses before delivery, the batter has the right to move away. The batter can say, ‘I don’t know when the ball is coming, so I moved away.’”
Tariq’s unusual action has been a major talking point leading into Sunday’s high-profile tie, with fans and experts curious about how Indian batters will handle the mystery spinner. Ashwin suggested that Indian batters could turn Tariq’s pause into a psychological pressure point.
“Imagine, this is such a big game. And Tariq has been the cynosure. He has to bowl 24 deliveries like that. If the batter starts withdrawing, imagine the pressure on Tariq. He might have to alter his action in the middle of the game. Pakistan’s trump card might turn out to be nothing,” Ashwin added.
Ashwin also acknowledged the potential headache for umpires in such a scenario, noting that they would have to decide whether to warn the bowler or the batter. “Odds are, and that is how cricket has worked, the bowler will be warned first,” he said.
Addressing concerns about legality, Ashwin clarified that Tariq’s pause is part of his normal bowling action. “If I have a normal bowling action but suddenly pause and deliver the final ball in the over, that was ruled illegal a few years ago because it’s against the natural rhythm of my bowling. For Tariq, the case is different. That pause is part of his normal action,” he explained.
Ashwin’s insights offer a fascinating tactical angle ahead of one of the most anticipated encounters in the T20 World Cup 2026.
