Ashwin talks about the difference in leadership of M.S. Dhoni and Virat Kohli
Ravichandran Ashwin
Chennai: The time couldn’t have been better for R. Ashwin to be rested from Team India. The off-spinner who became a father to a baby girl recently, feels he was fortunate to be with his wife when she went into labour.
In a freewheeling interview with this newspaper, Ashwin talks about fatherhood, the difference in leadership of MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli and on why captaincy remains elusive to him.
Excerpts:
Q Are you enjoying fatherhood?
I haven’t gone through as much pain as my wife. My wife has been doing a fantastic job. My baby was born when I was about to start training after taking some rest. And again, I had to take a few steps away and maintain composure. I can’t stay away from the baby as I just love the look of her. I think I get more calmer as a father.
Getting rest for a cricketer is a luxury. I am fortunate that it happened during my rest period. God destined it that way I guess. My wife always spoke about having me around when she goes into labour.
Q You have seen the way MS Dhoni leads a team and, of late, you are playing under a different skipper in Virat Kohli. What’s the biggest difference you have noticed in their captaincy approach?
I won’t says there’s a significant difference. Not many know that both of them operate in similar fashion, the way they set the field and the way they back their players. Virat is more aggressive and on the face. More than anybody else, a player has to lend full support to his captain. You have to buy into your captain’s decision. You need to live and die by his word. That’s my policy. If I were a captain, that’s what I expect from my team.
Q You have spoken about the confidence you enjoy from MSD. How is that with Virat?
It’s pretty much the same. He loves the way I set the field for my bowling. There is no one way to skin a cat. It’s not that you say something, and they go by it. There is one common goal and that’s for the team to benefit. You need to fall in the same page before doing anything.
Q Your captains and experts keep talking about your cricketing intelligence. You have been an integral part of Team India, but captaincy remains elusive…
I haven’t thought about it, to be honest. You have to be very practical in life. There hasn’t been many bowlers who have led India. I became a better bowler only because I batted well. A bowler needs to bat a lot to become a better bowler, that’s how you understand the psyche of a batsman. Leadership is something that other people needs to identify you with. I think Virat has done exceptionally well to get what he has got. He has earned it by all rights. If someone earns it by sheer performance and gives so much to the team, you have to back him.
Q There were a lot of rumours about a rift with in the team. How did players react in the dressing room after such stories?
I think controversies have some kind of commercial value to the media. When you read a report like that in the morning, it’s going to create an awkward moment in the team. I don’t know why people essentially want to create a rift with in the team. As such, there is no rift. If there is any difference in opinion we are matured individuals to communicate with each other. People react in different ways. If it happens to me, I will go and have a word with that particular person. Some people just polish it off. MS doesn’t care about it. I think he is wonderful with that. He remains in his own world.
Q How has Ravi Shastri contributed to the team?
He has been very positive influence in the team. At international level, it’s not about changing one’s technique. It’s much like making a lion believe it’s a lion. That’s what exactly Ravi has done.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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