T20 World Cup 2026: 'If Usman Tariq pauses, you pull out' - R Ashwin's bold take ahead of IND-PAK tie

Usman Tariq and his unique bowling action has been two of the major talking points heading into the T20 World Cup clash between India and Pakistan on Sunday, February 15. Experts and fans have been wondering how the Indian batters will tackle the mystery spinner in the blockbuster clash.

Legendary off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin suggested an interesting idea that the Indian team can adopt to counter Tariq's threat. The former India spinner said that the Indian batters can pull out when Tariq pauses in the middle of his bowling action. He stated that batters can tell the umpires that they are not sure when the ball will arrive, which is why they backed out.

“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,’” Ashwin said on his YouTube show Ash Ki Baat.

However, Ashwin wondered how the umpire would deal with such a scenario, as they would have to tell either Tariq to tweak his action or the batters to refrain from pulling out.

“That will be an interesting case and a huge headache for the umpire. The umpire will 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," Ashwin mentioned.

However, Ashwin opined that if the Indian batters adopt this strategy, it could neutralise Pakistan's in-form bowling weapon.

“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 said.

That pause is part of his normal action: Ashwin

Ashwin noted that Tariq pausing in the middle of his action is well within the rulebook. This is because the pause is a part of his normal bowling action and not something he does occasionally, which would have been illegal.

"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 that is against the natural rhythm of my bowling action. The umpire can warn me. For Tariq, the case is different. That pause is part of his normal action," he said.