Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra has shared his opinion on the Indian veteran Ravichandran Ashwin’s claim of his teammates being colleagues more than that of being friends in earlier years. Ashwin’s statement came after being dropped from the playing 11 during the World Test Championship in England.
The 36-year-old was the standout performer for India with the ball against West Indies in the 1st test as he recorded one of his best away performances, taking 5/60 in the first innings and 7/71 in the second innings to finish with figure 12/131 to seal the game for the Indian team on Day 3.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra believes that isn’t much friendship or family in cricket and reckons that a family-like atmosphere is not necessary to be successful in International Cricket. He stated the example of the Australians being successful in the recent past, even after not having a good relationship among themselves.
“They (Australian team members) didn’t really like each other as much, which is ok. But as soon as they crossed the boundary, there were unstoppable. It was almost impossible to stop them. A star-studded team that played for each other.
“It wasn’t as if Ian Healy refused to catch on Shane Warne’s delivery, or someone missed a run-out chance because they didn’t like the other. Everybody was trying their best to make Australia win. And it isn’t just one example, it happens with a lot of teams,” Aakash Chopra said.
“There aren’t many friendships, it isn’t like family. There’s cut-throat competition but teams are successful. Teams don’t need to be successful with only a family-like atmosphere. Your teammates don’t have to care a lot about your position in the team,” Aakash Chopra added.
Australia is one of the most successful teams in the 50-over World Cup winning five championship titles including the 2015 championship in their home soil. The Australian team is on a roll in recent ICC trophies winning the 2021 T20 World Cup in Dubai and defeating mighty India in the recently concluded World Test Championship final in Kennington, Oval.
Once Upon A Time, All Your Teammates Were Friends, Now They’re Colleagues – Ravichandran Ashwin
Earlier, Ravichandran Ashwin stated that nowadays in cricket all players are just colleagues rather being friends and stated that it makes a big difference in the team. The statement came as a shock, as it gives clear evidence that as is not well in the Indian dressing room.
“This is an era where everybody is a colleague. Once upon a time when cricket was played, all your teammates were friends.
“Now, they’re colleagues. There’s a big difference because here people are there to advance themselves and to stride ahead of another person sitting to your right or left. So nobody’s got the time to say, ‘Okay, boss what are you up to’?” Ravichandran Ashwin said.
Ashwin has been the standout performer at home over the years and he has improved his record in foreign conditions over the last few years to provide some crucial breakthroughs for his team. He will continue his fine form going into the 2nd test against West Indies.