India’s ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is hailed as one of the best bowlers around the world. 2021 has been an incredible year for the senior Indian bowler as he is currently leading the wicket-taking charts of this year, however, there was a time when Ravi Ashwin felt like he was being “thrown under the bus” and wanted to retire from the game.
In his latest interview, Ravi Ashwin has finally expressed how he felt after he was being “thrown under the bus” after a remark by former head coach Ravi Shastri during his rough phase. Well, speaking to ‘ESPNcricinfo’, Ashwin was asked how he felt when then-coach Shastri hailed Kuldeep Yadav as India’s ‘No.1 spinner’ overseas after he had taken a five-for in the 2-19 Sydney Test against Australia.
Talking about it, though Ashwin said that he was genuinely happy for Kuldeep Yadav, but he also admitted the fact that he was ‘crushed’ during a torrid phase in his career when he even thought of calling it quits from the game, multiple times. He said:
“I hold Ravi bhai in high esteem. We all do. And I understand we all can say things and then retract them. In that moment, though, I felt crushed. Absolutely crushed,”
He added:
“We all talk about how important it is to enjoy your team-mates’ success. And 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. Even when I have bowled well (at other times), I haven’t ended up with a five-for. So I am genuinely happy for him. And 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. If I feel like I am being thrown under the bus, how am I supposed to get up and come for a party to enjoy the team’s or team-mate’s success?”
Further, Ashwin revealed how after that statement was made, he went straight to his room and talked it out to his wife. But soon keeping his feelings aside, he went out and joined the party as India has won a big series. He revealed:
“I went back to my room and then I spoke to my wife. And my children were there. So we were able to, you know, shrug it off, and I still made it to the party, because, end of the day, we had won a massive series.”
Also Read: A Piece Of Stats That Proves Ravi Ashwin Is A Nightmare For Left-Handers
