When Ashwin Revealed That He Never Wanted To Become A Bowler

image-lsr967d1Ashwin in the middle of his action (AP Photo)

In the aftermath of India's defeat in the 2023 World Test Championship final at the Oval, veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin found himself at the centre of attention. Despite being the No.1 ranked Test bowler at the time, Ashwin was left out of the Playing XI as the team management opted for an extra pacer due to unfavourable pitch conditions.

The decision to exclude Ashwin drew criticism from former India opener Sunil Gavaskar, who lambasted the management for their treatment of the experienced spinner. Gavaskar noted that "no other Indian player had been treated as poorly as Ashwin" and highlighted the disparity in treatment between batters and bowlers.

Responding to Gavaskar's comments, Ravi Ashwin reflected on his journey as a cricketer, recalling a match between India and Sri Lanka where he was inspired to take up off-spin bowling after witnessing the performance of the bowlers. However, he expressed regret at not pursuing a career as a batter, acknowledging the different parameters that exist for batters and bowlers in cricket.

“Although, when I retire, the first thing I would regret is to be a great batter. I should have never become a bowler.”

India's decision to go with Ravindra Jadeja and four-seamers backfired as Australia emerged victorious by 209 runs. The Oval pitch offered turn, a factor that could have favoured Ashwin's inclusion, especially considering Australia's line up with five left-handers.

In hindsight, Ashwin admitted that "he wished he had played in the final," citing his contributions to the team over the past two years. His absence raised questions about the team selection and highlighted the importance of considering match-ups and player strengths in crucial matches like the WTC final.