Ashish Ranjan
In June, India was defeated by Australia by 209 runs in the final of the ICC 2023 World Test Championship (WTC) at The Oval in London. Notably, the benching of veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin in the decisive Test was the primary topic of discussion following the defeat.
The conditions at The Oval necessitated his exclusion from the starting lineup, as per the team management. A few days after the summit match, Ashwin addressed his absence from the XI.
In an interview with The Indian Express, he remarked that in the current era, everyone in the locker room is a colleague, which generated a great deal of buzz on social media. In addition, he stated that modern players are there to advance and pass those seated to their right or left.
“This is a time when everyone is a coworker. Once upon a time, when cricket was played, everyone on your team was your comrade. They are now colleagues. There is a significant difference because here people are there to advance themselves and to walk in front of the individual seated to your right or left. No one has time to ask, “Okay, boss, what are you doing?” he told Indian Express.
He continued by stating that he believes cricket enhances when it is shared and one understands the skill and experience of another player. He added that it is a solitary voyage.
You will have colleagues as friends: Shastri
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri, who worked alongside Ashwin during his tenure with the team, responded directly to the 36-year-old’s comment. Shastri stated that he never considered his associates to be his friends. The 61-year-old noted that there will always be teammates, whether in the locker room or the broadcast booth.
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“For me, it has always been coworkers. You will have colleagues as friends. I mean, how many intimate friends does each individual have? If you ask anyone, they will say four or five… in their lifetime! I am content with five intimate friends in my life; I do not desire more. What I’m saying is, colleagues always. Commentary box, teammates,” the former cricketer stated to The Week.
