India’s top-spinner R Ashwin who is also the world’s No.1 bowler could not find a place in India’s Playing XI for the World Test Championship (WTC) Final. The veteran bowler was dropped to accommodate an extra pacer because Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid thought The Oval pitch was not suited for Ashwin. This stunt from the Indian team management backfired and India lost the game.
The defeat drew a lot of criticism from the fans as well as the experts. Even Sachin Tendulkar could not stop himself from calling out Ashiwin’s exclusion. Amid all the uproar, the off-spinner himself has broken the silence and answered it for everyone. Ashwin has talked about his exclusion and revealed how he felt at that moment.
Talking to The Indian Express, Ashwin revealed that he was informed about his exclusion 48 hours prior to the match day so it was not surprising. However, the spinner did admit that it took him time to make peace with this.
“I would have loved to play because I have played a part in us getting there. Even in the last final I got four wickets and bowled really well. Ever since 2018-19, my bowling overseas has been fantastic and I have managed to win games for the team,” said Ashwin when he was asked about the exclusion.
Dravid and Rohit make R Ashwin regret his decision to become a bowler
The off-spinner also mentioned his numbers in England and said that despite maintaining a good record in overseas Tests, he has had to sit on the bench on multiple occasions. Ashwin then went on to say that after seeing the kind of treatment bowlers receive in India, he regrets giving up batting and taking up bowling
“This perception I have constantly tried to fight, but there are different yardsticks for bowlers and batters. And there are different ways of treatment…tomorrow when I hang up my boots, the first thing I will regret is having been such a fine batter, I should have never become a bowler,” said Ashwin when asked if there is a different set of rules for batters and bowlers.
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