Ahead of R Ashwin’s 100th career Test match, former India spinner and now commentator Laxman Sivaramakrishnan sparked up social media with an allegation that the off-spinner is avoiding him and didn’t reply to his call and text.
The 37-year-old R Ashwin will be playing his 100th career Test starting Thursday in Dharamsala against England. He hadn’t had a great first three and half Tests, but rocked back with a five-wicket haul in England’s second innings in the fourth Test, helping India take an unassailable 3-1 series lead and pocket another home series.
There is a huge celebration among the fans and the Indian players and staff ahead of Ashwin’s 100th Test match. He will be only the 14th Indian player to feature in 100 Test matches.
However, Laxman Sivaramakrishnan, who has targetted Ashwin in the past over his huge success at home and not-so-great overseas record, took to Twitter on Wednesday to allege that the off-spinner cut off his call and didn’t reply to his text wishing him for his marquee landmark game.
L Sivaramakrishnan tweeted: “Tried calling him (Ashwin) a few times to wish him for his 100th Test. Just cut off my call. Sent him a message, no reply. Thats the respect we former cricketers get.”
Did R Ashwin disrespect Laxman Sivaramakrishnan?
Sivaramakrishnan, who played 9 Tests and 16 ODIs for India and 76 overall FC matches, expressed upsetness over being disrespected.
He added: “Respect comes only from cultured people. Btw, I was earlier tweeting about a minor correction in his action and not criticizing him. If only people understood.”
Check out the tweets from the former spinner here:
Sivaramakrishnan has in the past made some scathing and critical comments about R Ashwin. So even if his allegations are true, one could empathize with the champion off-spinner for avoiding contact with Sivaramakrishnan.
Ashwin has bagged 507 Test wickets in 99 Tests at an average of 23. He has taken 35 five-wicket hauls in Test cricket, which is the fourth most behind only Muthiah Muralidaran, Shane Warne, and Richard Hadlee.
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