Ravichandran Ashwin talks about the time he was denied Indian Test Team captaincy
In terms of the Test format, Rohit Sharma appeared as the front-runner among other options KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah, and Rishabh Pant when India was seeking a capable Virat Kohli successor. Only a select few suggested a fifth, very unexpected name in the midst of the debate about these four identities and what would happen after the 36-year-old.
For the simple reason that it is an underestimated choice, it is surprising. It was Ravichandran Ashwin. The seasoned off-spinner has held a leadership position before, so his talents were never in question. However, his name was barely mentioned by cricket experts and pundits. But Ashwin disclosed the reason he was passed over for the India captaincy for the very first time ever.
“My name is not the first name of the sheet when India tour abroad.” – Ravichandran Ashwin
In a conversation alongside Indian Express, Ashwin addressed the criticism that he was an “overthinker” in the world of cricket. He claimed that if, like the majority of Indian players, he had been guaranteed a regular spot in the playing XI, he would not have overanalyzed or been “traumatised” by his position. Even worse, he criticised the populace for the “unfair” name.
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 that they will get only two games will be traumatised and will be 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?”
When questioned if this stigma had hurt him, he revealed the scheme to keep him from becoming the leader of India and discussed the views of seasoned cricketers who frequently stated that Ashwin’s name would not appear initially on the name sheet for an international Test. He said, “It was created to work against me, right? And as I said, there have been statements that people have made all along when leadership question has come my way, there have been people who are been out there telling, my name is not the first name of the sheet when India tour abroad.”
