Cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin is different. He speaks his mind, stands up for himself and is no push-over. He may not win popularity contests and hardly gets captaincy calls from the teams he plays for. But he sticks to his guns and the rule book supports him in the two clear issues — his recent spat with Eoin Morgan over an IPL game and the ‘Mankading’ episode in the past — for both of which he has been brutally criticised.
Ashwin is willing to challenge the traditions defining sportsmanship because he likes to compete and wants to win. Players who are forthright do not make friends easily but Ashwin has shown that he does not care and he is willing to fight his way into the team. In fact, his debut was delayed by MS Dhoni’s preference for Harbhajan.
Virat Kohli
Fall out with Virat Kohli?
Reports coming from the UAE hint at Ashwin, along with two more senior players, have complained to the BCCI over Virat Kohli’s captaincy. Ashwin was kept out of the Test in England in four out of five Tests. Kohli too, allegedly, wasn’t happy with the selectors for the inclusion of Ashwin in the T20 World Cup squad as he wanted leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal. Complaining about Kohli’s captaincy to BCCI’s powerful bosses may be a rumour, but Ashwin is one who has never hesitated to state his opinion, which he always does in team meetings and invites more glares from teammates. In one sentence — Ashwin is different.
Needless fuss
“Dressing room differences are always there, and every organisation or outfit has issues, so that’s not something new. On Ashwin’s altercation with Eoin Morgan, honestly I did not see the match, but players can run if there’s any deflection of the body or bat. And that’s what the rule of the law says. So it’s up to them to take the call.” — Ayaz Memon, cricket analyst and commentator — (As told to Sashidhar Adivi)
Ayaz Memon
Complaining on the captain is stupid
“I can’t believe that Ashwin had complained to the BCCI about Virat Kohli. It’s stupid and childish to approach the Indian cricket board and complain about the team captain. Anyways, the media speculation about Ashwin, Cheteshwar Pujara and Rahane complaining about Kohli’s captaincy have also been refuted by the BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal — though it should have either been from the BCCI secretary or the media unit. I’ve been the team manager for this team for about two years and the atmosphere in the dressing room has always been vibrant and positive. There’s a lot of mutual respect for each other. As regards the recent Eoin Morgan issue, look at the laws of the game. If the ball is in play even if it has been deflected from the fielders (or umpire) the batsman is entitled to run. Where is the question of losing the spirit of the game?
— Sunil Subramanium, former Indian team manager — As told to Bipin Dani
Sunil Subramanium
