Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed perceptions that he was a serious personality days after he announced his retirement from international cricket. The 38-year-old felt his lack of extravagant celebrations after an individual or team success has led fans to such a belief.
Ashwin announced his international retirement in a shock to the cricketing world after the third Test of the ongoing India-Australia Test Series down below. The off-spinner finished as the seventh highest wicket-taker in Test history with 537 scalps in 106 outings.
Speaking on the Sky Sports podcast about how he has been perceived by fans, Ashwin said:
“I wanted people to know me for who I am, because a lot of times Ashwin picks a wicket and Virat Kohli is all over the place. So often you don’t see me pick a wicket and blow a kiss through the blade of my bat to my better half who sitting in the dressing room or sitting in the hospitality box.”
Ashwin continued:
“He (Kohli) just jumps around and people very often tend to think that Ashwin is the one who is absolutely serious and Virat is the one who is having fun, that’s why someone asked me the question, why are you serious all the time?
“My answer to that in the first place is that I’m never a serious person, but when someone is picking on me and I have the ball in my hand to win a Test match for my country, my mind is stuck because I’m in So I felt like a lot of who I am was diluted into what I’ve become.”
Ashwin remains India’s second highest wicket-taker in total (765) and in Tests (537) behind only Anil Kumble. His last outing for India was the second Test of the ongoing Australian series in Adelaide – a match his side lost by ten wickets.
“For me, I have always been the MVP and I am the MVP of my cricket” – Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin believed that every cricketer should be celebrated as the MVP of his journey instead of only the legends getting all the accolades and admiration from the fans.
The Tamil Nadu-born cricketer was arguably India’s greatest Test match winner as evidenced by his joint record 11 Player of the Series awards.
“One message that I would leave to everyone and I want to change constantly is that it is not the fact that these are brilliant cricketers, but people on the outside who think that everyone is playing a supporting role are extremely wrong because this is a sport. An MVP in my life, for my father or for my mother, I am the MVP. It is not Rohit, Virat or anyone outside, similarly everyone’s journey is unique MVP and I am the MVP of my cricket,” Ashwin said.
Ashwin also played a major role in India’s 2011 ODI World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy triumphs.
Edited by Ritwik Kumar
