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'I Wanted...': Ashwin Explains Why He Does Not Blow A Kiss To His Better Half Like Virat Kohli

Aakash Saini∙ Updated: Dec 25 2024, 3:41 PM

Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin [Source: @ImTanujSingh/x]Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin [Source: @ImTanujSingh/x]

Ravichandran Ashwin stunned the cricketing world by announcing his retirement from international level without any prior notice or indication. The legendary Indian all-rounder confirmed the same following the conclusion of India’s third Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 Test against Australia at the Gabba.

With curtains finally drawn on his illustrious and a near decade-and-a-half career, the cricketer recently cleared the perception of people, who often confuse him as a ‘serious character’ by analyzing his on-field celebrations.

Ashwin explains Kohli influence in people’s perception

While conversing with former English cricketers Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain on Sky Sports Cricket, Ravichandran Ashwin acknowledged Virat Kohli’s over-the-top celebration whenever the legendary spinner himself takes a wicket for Team India. Kohli’s celebration often overshadows his teammates, which has led to others believing that Ashwin is a ‘serious character’, the off-spinner opined.

Ashwin claimed that while he is not a ‘serious person’ by any means, he tends to stick his mind to the process whenever he is trying to win a Test match for his country. He said:

“I wanted people to know me for who I am, because a lot of times, Ashwin is picking up a wicket and Virat Kohli is all over the place. He’s just jumping about and people very often tend to believe that Ashwin’s the one that’s absolutely serious and Virat’s the one that’s having all the fun, which is why somebody asked me the question ‘Why are you serious all the time?’ My answer to that in the first place is I’m never a serious person, but when somebody is clobbering me and I have the ball in my hand to win a Test Match for my country, my mind is sticking, because I’m in the process.”

Ravichandran Ashwin also added that it is the same reason why he does not blow a kiss to his wife Prithi Narayanan whenever he picks up a five-wicket haul, unlike Virat Kohli who at times does it to his wife Anushka Sharma while celebrating his centuries. Ashwin added:

“So very often, you don’t see me picking up a five-wicket haul and pushing across a kiss through the blade of my bat to my better half sitting in the dressing room or sitting in the hospitality box. So I felt like a lot of who I am got diluted in the fact of what I’ve become. So I wanted to bring that out in my book.”

Ravichandran Ashwin made his exit from the game as the seventh highest wicket-taker in Test cricket and the second highest behind Anil Kumble among all Indian bowlers with 537 scalps. Overall, the legendary Indian all-rounder accumulated 765 international wickets in his career.

The 38-year-old was a part of the Indian team that lifted the 2011 World Cup at home and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy in England.

As of now, the cricketer will next be seen in action during the IPL 2025 season next year for the Chennai Super Kings franchise.