Team India’s off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has recalled the incident when former head coach Ravi Shastri’s words made him feel absolutely crushed. Ashwin has been an integral part of India’s Test set-up for the past decade and has turned out to be big match-winners on a consistent basis. However, over the years, the 35-year-old didn’t get much chance to showcase his skills on foreign soil.
In a conversation with ESPNcricinfo, Ashwin was asked what he felt when Shastri named Kuldeep Yadav as India’s No. 1 spinner overseas after his half-century in the Sydney Test during India’s tour of Australia. The ace spinner said he had a lot of respect for Shastri but his words made him feel crushed.
“I have a lot of respect for Ravi bhai. We all do. And I think we can say everything and then take them back. In that moment, however, I felt crushed. Absolutely crushed. We all talk about how important it is to enjoy the success of our peers. And I was happy for Kuldeep. I couldn’t get five wickets but he has five wickets in Australia. I know how big it is. even when i bowled well [at other times]I didn’t end up with one for five. So I am really happy for him. And it’s an extremely happy occasion to win in Australia,” said Ashwin.
Read also | Sri Lanka Cricket to deduct salaries of players who fail new stringent fitness test
India made history on that tour as they registered their first Test series win on Australian soil. Ashwin recalled how Shastri’s words had affected him when he was thrown under the bus.
“But if I want to come and share in their happiness and the success of the team, then I should feel like that’s where I am. If I feel like I’m being thrown under the bus, I want to see the success of the team or a teammate.” How about getting up and coming to the party? I went back to my room and then I talked to my wife. And my kids were there. So, you know, we were able to pull it off, and I still made it to the party, because at the end of the day, we had won a big series,” he said.
He further revealed that he played that series with a grade three stomach tear and was disappointed with his body. The 35-year-old said that the comparison between him and Kuldeep only made things worse for him.
Read also | Ponting slams root for England bowlers’ loss in Adelaide
“And you played a real role in winning the first Test. Till then the first Test seemed like a distant memory. I took three of the first four wickets in the first innings after I got out cheaply, and then when it got really flat in the last innings, I plugged in for over 50 overs and regardless of what turned out to be Took three wickets. A grade three abdominal tear. In my mind, I had done something good for the team in unbearable pain, but that’s all I heard,” Nathan Lyon hit six, Ashwin three. Anyway, I was disappointed with my body to let me down when I was in really good bowling form. The last thing I wanted were these comparisons and conjectures. Between that reaction and Sydney, it didn’t feel like I played any part,” said Ashwin.
get all IPL news and cricket score Here
,