The wounds from India’s defeat in the World Test Championship final are still fresh, especially for Ravichandran Ashwin. The team management initially left the veteran off-spinner out of the playing XI and then had to witness his side succumb to a resounding 209-run loss as Australia emerged as champions. This defeat extended India’s wait for another ICC trophy, marking their second successive defeat in a WTC final. As the controversy and blame game surrounding Ashwin’s exclusion continues, the experienced bowler has seemingly sent a final message to captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid with a remark about MS Dhoni.
Ashwin has been India’s highest wicket-taker in the WTC final over the past two cycles, amassing 61 wickets and claiming the top spot in the ICC Test rankings among bowlers. However, the ongoing debate about India’s overseas performance led to the team opting for an extra seamer instead of Ashwin in the final, which ultimately backfired.
During an episode of his YouTube show, Ashwin congratulated the Pat Cummins-led Australian side, acknowledging their well-deserved victory in the final, where they held a slight advantage. He then addressed the social media reactions aimed at the Indian team following another missed opportunity to secure an ICC trophy. Many posts on social media highlighted the success of former captain MS Dhoni, who led India to three ICC trophy wins. Ashwin explained that Dhoni’s leadership was characterized by instilling a sense of security in the players selected for the squad.
“It is understandable that there is uproar in India because we haven’t won an ICC trophy in 10 years. I empathize with the fans. However, the reaction on social media suggesting dropping certain players and including others is misguided. The quality of a player doesn’t change overnight. Many of us talk about MS Dhoni’s leadership. What did he do? He kept it very simple. Under his regime, where I also played, he would pick a squad of 15 players, and that same squad and XI would play throughout the year. That sense of security is very important for a player,” Ashwin expressed.
This is the second time in two weeks that Ashwin has emphasized the significance of instilling a “sense of security” in players’ minds. In a recent interview with the Indian Express, he discussed the label of being an “overthinker”. He explained that it was only natural for him to feel “traumatized” and “overthink” when he knew he would only get limited opportunities compared to players who were assured of a long run and could approach the game with more relaxation.
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He said: “A lot of people marketed me and positioned me as an overthinker. A person who will get 15-20 matches on the go doesn’t have to be mentally overthinking. A person who knows they will get only two games will be traumatized and 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?”
