WTC Final Exclusion: Ravichandran Ashwin, the star Indian off-spinner, has finally spoken out about his absence from the Indian playing XI for the World Test Championship final 2023 against Australia. Shardul Thakur, a seam all-rounder, was named ahead of Ashwin for the ‘all-important’ encounter. India went on to lose the match by 209 runs, their second consecutive WTC final defeat.
Following their defeat, numerous veteran cricketers questioned Ashwin’s absence from the playing XI, calling it a tactical error. However, the off-spinner views it as only a hiccup in his career and not a setback.
“It’s not a setback for me. It’s only a stumbling block; I’ll get over it since I’ve been there before. When you are knocked down for the first time, you have a reflexive reaction. “I believe you should be knocked down every now and then in your life so you get used to it and know how to bounce back,” Ashwin told the Indian Express and Hindu.
Reflecting on the game, Ashwin stated that he would have liked to participate because he helped India reach the final. He also stated that his international record has been outstanding since 2018 when he has won games for his side.
“I would have loved to play because I had a hand in getting us there. Even in the previous final, I took four wickets and bowled quite effectively. My bowling overseas has been outstanding since 2018-19, and I’ve won games for the team. I’m looking at it as a captain or coach, and I’m just speaking in retrospect, in their defence. So, the last time we were in England, the score was 2-2 with a drawn Test, and they would have believed that four pacers and one spinner are the best combination in England. That’s probably what they were thinking heading into the final,” he continued.
Notably, Ashwin played in the World T20 final 2021 against New Zealand, when he ended as India’s joint-highest wicket-taker. He took two wickets in each innings and concluded with match stats of 4 for 45 from 25 overs, including 10 maidens.
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