Ravichandran Ashwin has become the talk of the town in Indian cricket fraternity ever since he was unexpectedly dropped from India’s playing XI for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia earlier this month.
The Indian team-management decided against including the ace spinner in the team, citing conditions in London as the reason. Ashwin faced the snub despite being the number one Test bowler in the world and India’s highest wicket-taker in the second cycle of the WTC. The move backfired as the conditions turned out to be completely different.
India went on to suffer a crushing 209-run loss against Australia. Since the loss, the criticism has only increased as experts and fans lashed out at the Indian team-management for dropping Ashwin for such a crucial clash against a side that is dominated by left-handed batsmen.
Ravichandran Ashwin on captaincy snub:
In the wake of the defeat in WTC final, fans have not only criticised the team-management but have also opined that Ravichandran Ashwin should replace Rohit Sharma as the captain. Many believed that he would be elevated to the post of captain after Virat Kohli stepped down as captain last year but the post eventually went to Rohit.
And in a recent interview, Ashwin opened up on the reason why he was denied the India captaincy role. Speaking to the Indian Express, Ashwin spoke up on being tagged as an “overthinker” by the cricketing world. He also lashed out at those who game him that ‘unfair’ tag.
“A lot of people marketed me and positioned me that I am an overthinker. A person who will get 15-20 matches on the go doesn’t have to be mentally overthinking. A person who knows that they will get only two games will be traumatised and will be overthinking because it’s my job.
“It’s my journey. So this is what suits me. If somebody is going to tell me, ‘you’re going to play 15 matches, you will be looked after, you will be this, you are responsible for players, you are in the leadership role, I won’t be overthinking. Why would I?”
“It was created to work against me, right? And as I said, there have been statements that people have made all along when leadership question has come my way, there have been people who are been out there telling, my name is not the first name of the sheet when India tour abroad.
“Whether that name is first on the sheet or not is something I can’t control. If I earned it, it’s got to be there and that’s my belief. As I said, I have no complaints, I have no time to sit back and throw punches or regret or anything. I have no regrets about anyone,” he said.
Ashwin is currently playing for Dindigul Dragons in the ongoing 2023 Tamil Nadu Premier League. He is likely to be seen in the Indian colors next month when Team India visit West Indies.