Experienced Indian off-spinner R Ashwin finally opened up about not getting an opportunity to play in the World Test Championship Final 2023 against Australia. He stated that he knew in advance that he was not going to be a part of the playing XI for the summit clash at The Oval in London in June.
Ashwin Was Overlooked By The Team
For the unversed, the Indian cricket team went in with 4 pacers and one spinner in Ravindra Jadeja. Despite Ashwin’s records, the Indian management decided to ignore the veteran from the playing XI of the WTC Final 2023. This wasn’t the first instance when the team management decided to drop Ashwin from playing XI in England. In fact, this was the ‘sixth’ incident that this has happened.
Previously, during India’s 5-match Test series of the United Kingdom in 2021, Ashwin was dropped from all the five games that took place at Trent Bridge, Lord’s, Headingley, The Oval, and the rescheduled series decider at Edgbaston in Birmingham the year later.
R Ashwin Finally Broke His Silence On Missing The WTC Final 2023
R Ashwin, who is the number 1 ranked Test bowler, said that he was keen on playing the all-important game for team India and making a contribution to the team against Australia, against whom he has had plenty of success both at home and away from home. He revealed how he was mentally prepared to in whatever way possible to the team and make sure they go on to win the title after having played an instrumental role in India’s journey to the WTC Final.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Ashwin explained how he perceived the management’s call to drop him from the WTC final XI. He said:
“… 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,” Ashwin said.
“Ever since 2018-19, my bowling overseas has been fantastic and I have managed to win games for the team. I am looking at it as a captain or coach and I’m just talking in hindsight, in their defence.”
He added: “So the last time we were in England, it was 2-2 with a drawn Test and they would have felt 4 pacers and 1 spinner is the combination in England. That is what they might have thought going into the final. The problem is for a spinner to come into play, it must be the fourth innings. The fourth innings is a very crucial facet and for us to be able to put that amount of runs so the spinner can come into play, it’s completely a mindset thing,”
Team India’s batters failed miserably in both innings as the Asia Giants were outplayed in all the departments by the Pat Cummins-led Australian cricket team, who became the first team to win ICC World Titles in all three formats of the game in men’s cricket. R Ashwin said:
“The moment, the final finished I put out a tweet because I realised one thing is that I need closure. The moment I get the closure I can move on. There is no time to hang around. I have understood life a lot better now,”
