Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has come up with a cheeky, headline-grabbing idea on how India could handle Pakistan’s mystery spinner Usman Tariq ahead of their sensational showdown on February 15. Ashwin’s comments have already got fans on the edge of their seats, especially as Tariq is considered Pakistan’s most dangerous spin weapon in the tournament.
On his YouTube show Ash Ki Baat, Ashwin outlined the clever tactic, which he stressed was completely legal, and urged Indian batsmen to use it against Tariq’s now famous break at the crease.
“There is one thing I want to see. Who dares?” Ashwin said. “If Tariq stops before the delivery, the batsman has the right to walk away. The batsman can say, ‘I don’t know when the ball is coming, so I walked away.'”
Watch the video here:
“It will be an interesting case and it will be a huge headache for the judge,” he added. “The umpire will have to decide whether to caution the bowler or the batsman. Chances are, and that’s how cricket works, the bowler will be cautioned first.”
Ashwin believes the batsman’s mere withdrawal could boggle Tariq’s mind, pile pressure on the spinner and force him to rethink his rhythm amid the biggest game of the group stage.
“Imagine, it’s such a big game. And Tariq was a cynosure. He has to win 24 deliveries like that,” Ashwin said. “If the batter starts to tighten, imagine the pressure on Tariq. He may have to change his action in the middle of the game. Anything can become of Pakistan’s trump card.”
Why is Usman Tariq’s action controversial?
Tariq’s bowling action was at the center of debate even before the start of the T20 World Cup.
The off-spinner’s unusual action has drawn comparisons with Sri Lankan cricket legend Muttiah Muralitharan, mainly due to Tariq’s hypermobile (double-jointed) elbow, which prevents him from fully straightening his arm.
But the bigger problem for the batsmen is Tariq’s peculiar rhythm. His diagonal run, followed by a dramatic pause of several seconds in the box, creates a stop-start pattern that disrupts timing and forces players to second-guess their moves.
During Pakistan’s recent bilateral series against Australia, Cameron Green was among those who questioned the legality of Tariq’s actions.
However, Ashwin also defended Tariq’s action as being in accordance with the rules.
“If I have a normal bowling action but suddenly stop and deliver the last ball of the over, it was declared illegal a few years ago because it goes against the natural rhythm of my bowling action. The umpire can warn me. It’s different for Tariq. That pause is part of his normal action,” he said.
Why is Usman Tariq a threat to India?
India may have started their T20 World Cup title defense with two wins in two, but their struggles against spin were hard to overlook. The Suryakumar Yadav-led side lost three wickets to the American spinners, five more to Namibia, and there were phases when the batting looked anxious rather than fluent.
It is there that Usman Tariq becomes Pakistan’s biggest threat. It’s not just a spinner, it’s a disruptor. His diagonal run and dramatic pause in the crease disrupts the batsman’s rhythm even before the ball is released.
And once it gets going, it’s not easy to line up. Tariq mixes crisp carrom balls, gliding arm movement and gentle drifting at a blistering pace that keeps the batsmen guessing at every end.
After missing Pakistan’s tournament opener against the Netherlands, Tariq took 3 wickets against the USA. That means Tariq is in wicket form.
On a Colombo surface that could stick during the match, Tariq’s stop-start mystery could turn India’s spin discomfort into Pakistan’s biggest opener on February 15.
T20 World Cup | T20 World Cup Schedule | T20 World Cup Points Table | T20 World Cup Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
– The end
Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
February 13, 2026