After defeating India by 209 runs, Australia claimed the World Test Championship for the 2021-2023 cycle. Nathan Lyon excelled in the fourth inning, striking out four Indian batters. Ravichandran Ashwin, India’s best off-spinner and the No. 1 bowler in the ICC Test rankings, was forced to sit out and observe his team’s lacklustre performance because he was not selected in the starting XI.
In an interview with The Indian Express, the Chennai-born spinner slammed people for labelling him a “overthinker.” Ashwin added that if he had been assured of playing frequently for India, he would not have had to overthink things.
“A lot of people marketed me and positioned me that I am 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?”
“It’s unfair to actually say somebody’s an overthinker because that person’s journey is his own. And nobody has a right or business to do that.”
When Virat Kohli stepped down as Test captain, Rohit Sharma took over. Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravichandran Ashwin were all beaten by Rohit.
Being labelled as an overthinker, according to the 36-year-old, has worked against him, as has the fact that some seasoned cricketers predicted he would struggle to earn a place in the playing XI in overseas Tests, which did not assist his cause when India’s Test leadership post was being determined.
“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 being out there telling, my name is not the first name on the sheet when India tour abroad.”
“Whether that name is first on the sheet or not is something I can’t control. If I earned it, it’s got to be there and that’s my belief. As I said, I have no complaints, I have no time to sit back and throw punches or regret or anything. I have no regrets about anyone,”
he said.
Ashwin is currently with the Dindigul Dragons in the Tamil Nadu Premier League. India will play two Tests against the West Indies in the Caribbean in July, with Ashwin hoping to add to his 474 Test wickets.
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