Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is considered by many as one of the best all-rounders in Test cricket right now. However, the Indian cricket team has not used him to perfection in overseas conditions. The team management does not consider Ashwin as their number one spin bowling option in foreign Test matches.
Recently, in the away Test series against England, the Indian cricket team did not give a single match to Ravichandran Ashwin even though all cricket experts and fans suggested that the off-spinner should get a place in the playing XI. Before that, when India toured Australia two years ago, Kuldeep Yadav performed exceptionally well for the team in red-ball cricket.
The then head coach of the Indian cricket team Ravi Shastri labeled Kuldeep Yadav as the number one spinner for India in overseas Test matches. While Kuldeep did not get enough opportunities in Test cricket after that comment from Shastri, the statement from the coach left Ravichandran Ashwin absolutely crushed.
I was happy for Kuldeep Yadav: Ravichandran Ashwin
During an interview with The Cricket Monthly, Ravichandran Ashwin described the impact of that comment from Ravi Shastri. Here’s what Ashwin had to say:
“I hold Ravi bhai in high esteem. We all do. And I understand we all can say things and then retract them. In that moment, though, I felt crushed. Absolutely crushed. We all talk about how important it is to enjoy your team-mates’ success. And I was happy for Kuldeep.“
Ravichandran Ashwin concluded by saying that he acknowledged Kuldeep Yadav’s skills considering he had taken a five-wicket haul in Test matches on Australian soil which the right-arm off-spinner has not achieved yet. Ashwin is currently on a tour of South Africa with the Indian Test squad, while Kuldeep Yadav is no longer a part of the Indian squad. It will be interesting to see if Ravichandran gets a game in South Africa.
