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When Ravi Ashwin Made Surprising Remark After Being Ignored For Test Captaincy 

image-lrxcg3gvRavichandran Ashwin (Image Source: Twitter)

India’s veteran spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin is hailed as a Test cricket great. Ashwin made his Test debut under the leadership of MS Dhoni against West Indies in 2011.

With his array of tricks in his armory, the Indian spinner showed the world his cricketing genius. And, in a short period, the 37-year-old became a force to be reckoned with Test cricket and the biggest bet for India in the spin department. 

In dry and dusty conditions that supported turn, Ashwin wreaked havoc with the ball. He soon became a go-to-bowler on subcontinent pitches. He made a name for himself under Dhoni’s captaincy but showed his dominance under Kohli’s. 

Currently, he is India’s second-highest wicket-taker in Tests and is just four wickets short of completing the 500-wicket milestone. Yet, it is quite strange that Ravichandran Ashwin never got the opportunity to be included in the leadership group. 

During India’s tour of Australia in 2020-21, then-skipper Virat Kohli went back to India after playing the first Test match. Ajinkya Rahane was handed over the captaincy duties, while Cheteshwar Pujara became the vice-captain. 

Rohit Sharma returned in the third Test and he took vice-captaincy duties from Pujara. With both Kohli and Rohit not on the side for the second Test, not once Ashwin was considered for vice-captaincy despite holding so many years of experience in the longest format. 


However, after being asked about the same, Ashwin said he didn’t feel disappointed. 

“I am not at all disappointed (at not getting the vice captaincy). I go out there and make my own plans and get my fields that I want. The captains and the vice-captains that I have played with have been very supportive of whatever I wanted. Leadership is also about leading yourself and keeping your space upbeat for any situation that arises. If you can help another team mate that’s also leadership.” 


‘Virat is more expressive, communicative, and in your face’- Ravi Ashwin 

When asked to draw comparisons between Virat Kohli and Ashwin in terms of captaincy, Ashwin stated that there wasn’t much of a difference. Although, the duo has different traits. 

 “I am totally blown away by the kind of comparisons people like to make when it comes to captaincy. I feel this Indian team has had some wonderful results in the past because of quality players and human beings in the dressing room. Virat is more expressive, communicative and in your face while Rahane doesn’t do these three things. But the way they captain the side is pretty much similar”. 

The Indian team are currently in Hyderabad playing the first Test of the five-match series against England. In pursuit of a 231-run target, India are in a spot of bother at 119 for 7. KS Bharat has just come out in the middle, alongside Ravi Ashwin.