The Australia tour was Ashwin's second shortened Test tour in a row, and after suffering multiple injuries between 2018 and 2020.
Follow Us
Former India coach Ravi Shastri is pleased that his comments about Kuldeep Yadav becoming India’s No. 1 overseas spinner prompted Ravichandran Ashwin to ‘do something different.’ Ashwin had been injured in the first Test of the Australia tour in Adelaide in 2018, and by the time the fourth Test arrived in Sydney, India’s spinners were Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav. Kuldeep returned 5 for 99 in that drawn match, assisting India to their first-ever Test series victory in Australia.
In a recent interview with Cricket Monthly, Ashwin stated that Shastri’s comments “absolutely crushed” him. Shastri responded to Ashwin’s statement on the Indian Express’ eAdda on Thursday.
“One thing as a coach, let me tell you… my job out there is not to butter everyone’s toast,” Shastri said. “My job is, without agenda, to state facts and say the way it is. Ashwin didn’t play the Test match in Sydney. Kuldeep played, took a five-for, and bowled brilliantly. So, it was only fair that I give the young kid who is probably playing his first or second Test match overseas…and he bowled magnificently in that Test match. He bowled as well as any spinner overseas in that Test match. So, I said the way he’s bowled here, there’s every chance he could be India’s No.1 [spin] bowler overseas.”
Also Read – IPL 2022: Mega Auction to be held in Bangalore on February 12-13
“Now if that hurt some other player, then I would say good. In hindsight, I’m glad I made that statement and Ashwin has made this statement because if it hurt him and he was upset, I’m glad the way he went about his job. I’m the kind of coach who will want a player to go inside and say ‘I’m going to show his coach I’m going to teach him a lesson and show him what I’m all about’.”
“So, if it upset him, I’m very happy. If it made him do something different, which he did, I’m very happy because the way he was bowling in 2019 and the way he bowled in 2021 in Australia was chalk and cheese. I’ll go for the cheese any day. And by the way being thrown under the bus, Ash need not worry because I’d already spoken to the bus driver and told him to stop two feet short,” he added.
Ashwin was actually content with the accolades heaped on Kuldeep following that series.
“I was happy for Kuldeep. I have not been able to get a five-for but he has a five-for in Australia. I know how big it is. It’s an extremely happy occasion, to win in Australia. But if I have to come and partake in his happiness, and the success of the team, I must feel like I belong there,” the veteran off-spinner added.
The Australia tour was Ashwin’s second shortened Test tour in a row, and after suffering multiple injuries between 2018 and 2020, he revealed that he had considered retiring from cricket at various points. But fast forward to 2021, and Ashwin is at the pinnacle of his powers, having performed admirably on his most recent tour to Australia as well as at home. He now has 427 Test wickets, just eight short of Kapil Dev’s record. Shastri believed Ashwin’s improved fitness was a factor in his rise.
