IPL 2026 has served up plenty of drama, but not all of it happens on the pitch. The latest off-field buzz? A cheeky exchange between Ravichandran Ashwin and fans that had everyone talking.
Ashwin, now retired from international cricket and the IPL, has reinvented himself as one of the game's sharpest analysts. His YouTube channel offers pre-match breakdowns and post-match reviews, keeping him deeply involved in the conversation. But when he missed analyzing the Lucknow Super Giants vs Mumbai Indians clash, fans took notice—especially given what happened in the match.
Rohit Sharma, returning from injury, played a vintage knock of 84 off 44 balls to lead Mumbai's charge in a high-scoring affair. It was the kind of innings that demands attention. So when fans realized Ashwin hadn't covered it, the speculation began.
During one of his shows, the anchor jokingly asked Ashwin if there was any tension between him and Rohit. "Fans are saying you analyze RCB and Virat Kohli's game, but Rohit Sharma played such a fine knock after so long, and you ignored him. Did something happen between you and Rohit?"
Ashwin's response was classic: "Haan thoda lafda ho gaya na (Yes, I had a bit of a tussle)."
But he quickly clarified, shutting down any rumors with his trademark honesty. "You're saying anything. If I've had any tussle with anyone, I wouldn't keep it to myself. Please understand me and keep a soft corner for me. I did commentary for two consecutive days, then traveled, came home, and slept at night."
Once the joke was out of the way, Ashwin turned serious, praising Rohit's innings with genuine admiration. "Rohit Sharma played a very good knock. The way he hit Avesh Khan for a six over extra cover—put it in a loop and watch it 1,000 times. What a shot. He also hit Manimaran Siddharth for a six over the bowler."
But Ashwin also kept it real about the bigger picture. "LSG and MI have no scene in this IPL. Mumbai have nothing to prove. They only..."
It's moments like these that remind us why we love the IPL—not just for the cricket, but for the personalities and banter that make the game truly entertaining.