Rajasthan Royals’ social media team put out an enthralling video on Sunday evening. On their flight from Mumbai to Calcutta, 35,000 feet above sea level, Ravichandran Ashwin was making swift moves on the chess board.

His chess player’s cunning has got full vent both with the bat and ball in this IPL. There isn’t a more versatile and evolving cricketer than the wily off-spinner in world cricket today. He’s always trying to reinvent himself, setting fresh goals every passing day.

Three years ago his future in limited overs cricket was uncertain but he has rewritten the script not many dreamt was possible. At 35, he has the drive to breach boundaries and has recast himself as a premier all-rounder in T20 cricket.

“Feels like a million dollars,” Ravichandran Ashwin beamed after receiving his Man of the Match award against Chennai Super Kings. His unbeaten 23-ball 40 had sealed their berth in Qualifier 1 against Gujarat Titans with a second-spot finish.

Credit should also go to the Royals team management, led by head coach Kumar Sangakkara, for trusting Ashwin’s abilities. In the bang-bang world of T20 cricket, he performed the role of a floater in the batting order to perfection. In the process, he also became the first batter in the history of the IPL to willingly retire out, walking off the ground in the 19th over of Rajasthan’s match against Lucknow Super Giants.

The stats are revealing: he has 183 runs at a strike rate of 146.40 besides 11 wickets at an economy of 7.14.

“Rajasthan Royals should be credited for showing faith in Ashwin’s all-round abilities... No franchise has ever utilised Ashwin’s batting talent before... They have understood his true potential,” Harbhajan Singh said on Star Sports.

Given the flourish, it will be impossible for the national selectors to ignore Ashwin’s claims during the T20 World Cup in Australia. None can forget his exploits and experience of bowling on the hard Australian pitches and together with Yuzvendra Chahal forms a lethal combination.

His bowling skills in Tests have also now been replicated in the T20s. His rhythm has been outstanding and control impeccable. When most spinners would try to contain batsmen, he has always dared to play the attacking role. There has been the carrom ball or the occasional leg break but the straighter ones that have hastened off the pitch have been remarkable. More importantly, he has never shied from giving it a rip to get the ball to turn regularly.

The thinking bowler in Ashwin has never stopped at innovating numerous variations. During the 2020-21 series Down Under he made Steve Smith his obsession for about six months while preparing for the four-match Test series. He ended up with 12 wickets in three Tests, dismissing Smith thrice in the series.

It wouldn’t come as a surprise if this season provides Ashwin with a fresh lease of life in the shortest format.