Ravichandran Ashwin Speaks Out on WTC Final Loss & His Omission from Playing XI

Chennai: Ravichandran Ashwin, the top-ranked Test bowler, has been making headlines ever since India faced another defeat in the WTC final. The Indian team management decided not to include Ashwin in the playing XI due to unfavourable conditions, opting instead for an extra fast bowler led by Rohit Sharma. However, this decision received criticism from various experts who believed Ashwin’s absence was a mistake. Former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar expressed his disapproval of the management’s treatment of Ashwin, stating that no other Indian player had been treated as poorly as the 36-year-old off-spinner.

Gavaskar also made an interesting comparison, suggesting that a top-ranked batsman would never face such a situation regardless of the pitch conditions. Ashwin recently shared his thoughts on being excluded from the final, expressing his desire to have played and highlighting his significant contributions over the past two years.

Furthermore, Ashwin responded to Gavaskar’s comments by recalling an India-Sri Lanka match where he witnessed bowlers being hammered all around the park. This experience inspired him to become a better bowler, aiming to outperform those who conceded runs. However, Ashwin mentioned that upon retirement, he might regret not focusing on his batting skills and becoming a great batsman instead.

Ultimately, Ashwin accepted the unfair treatment he received but acknowledged that he must perform whenever given limited opportunities.