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"What is collateral damage?”: Ashwin drops bombshell on freedom of speech in Indian cricket

Poulomi Chakraborty

Ashwin on Lyon's honest take (Source: @mufaddal_vohra/x.com, @ImTanujSingh/x.com)Ashwin on Lyon's honest take (Source: @mufaddal_vohra/x.com, @ImTanujSingh/x.com)

The Ashes always doubled up the tension, and sometimes that crossed the boundary lines too. After the legendary Australian spinner Nathan Lyon was dropped from the playing XI of the Gabba Test, he expressed his frustration in an interaction.

When Ravichandran Ashwin was asked about this, he shared his opinion with a bold claim. Ashwin explained that expressing honest thoughts in India isn’t easy, as it brings its own difficulties.

Ashwin backs Nathan Lyon for speaking his mind

After a record-breaking victory in the Ashes opener, Australia came up with some major changes in the pink-ball Test at the Gabba. Nathan Lyon was dropped, and Neser replaced him in the playing XI. The change offended the Australian spinner as he was dropped from a home Test playing XI after more than a decade. The move stunned the off-spinner, who didn’t hold back and called the decision “filthy.”

In a video on his YouTube channel ‘Ash Ki Baat’, when journalist Vimal Kumar asked Ashwin about this, his answer grabbed attention. Standing firmly behind the Aussie spinner, Ashwin said Lyon is fortunate to be able to speak openly without risking his place in the national setup.

“Nathan Lyon is lucky. If anyone is dropped from the team, the emotions would be similar to what Lyon expressed in front of the world. He got the platform to express his views, and he did just that. The Australian team wouldn't feel bad, and he would play the Adelaide Test. I am just happy for him,” he said.


"People have emotions, and they will do just that. However, I cannot express my emotions, because if I do, I will lose out, and only my harm will be caused. So why will I do that? However, I really respect Nathan Lyon; he let his emotions out. Good on him,” he added.

Indian cricket runs on a very different rulebook

During the Border-Gavaskar Trophy last year, Ravichandran Ashwin retired from the Test format in the middle in complete silence. While reflecting on the Nathan Lyon incident, he drew a sharp line, saying Indian players can be honest too, but the repercussions always loom large.

“We, as Indian cricketers, are allowed to express our opinion. No one is stopping us. But what is collateral damage? Your expression and emotion are not given as much respect because you will be stamped as a person of a certain character for doing that,” he added.

Ashwin’s Test retirement is still a mystery for the Indian fans. After the Brisbane Test, he announced his retirement in the press conference, leaving the world stunned. Though his father made an explosive claim behind this move, Ashwin himself has stayed completely silent.