“It’s Not A Setback, Just A Stumbling Block” – R Ashwin Opens Up On Missing The WTC Final

Team India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin’s omission from the World Test Championship final was one of the most debated decisions. India went in with four seamers and a spinner in Ravindra Jadeja for the final at The Kennington Oval in London. They lost the match by 209 runs, losing their second consecutive World Test Championship final.

Ravichandran Ashwin expressed that he would have loved to play in the summit clash. However, he added that the team wanted to go ahead with the same template that worked for them on their last tour of England. The spinner also stated that he sees his snub from the final as a “stumbling block and not a setback.” Speaking to the Indian Express and The Hindu, Ashwin said,

“Because we are standing right after the WTC Final. I would have loved to play because I have played a part in us getting there. Even in the last final I got four wickets and bowled really well. Ever since 2018-19, my bowling overseas has been fantastic and I have managed to win games for the team. I am looking at it as a captain or coach and I’m just talking in hindsight, in their defense. So the last time when we were in England, it was 2-2 with a drawn Test and they would have felt 4 pacers and 1 spinner is the combination in England. That is what they might have thought going into the final.”

“For me, it’s not a setback. It’s just a stumbling block, I’ll move on because I have gone through that. When somebody knocks you down for the first time, you have a knee-jerk reaction. I think you should be knocked down once in a while along your life so that you are used to it and will know how to bounce back. That’s what life is. Whether you are at your peak or not, it is still a setback. The fact that you need to learn how to deal with it is very important,” he added.

I knew I was going to be left out 48 hours before:  Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin further expressed that he has always been humbled by his interaction with former cricketers. He added that he was happy when they felt that he was good enough to play in England conditions. The spinner further revealed that he knew he wasn’t going to play 48 hours before the game. He said,

“I am 36 years old and honestly, what triggers you what gives you happiness, it changes. Yeah, every time, I get a text message from some of the former senior cricketers, I always get excited and immediately respond. That’s because of how I have seen them as a youngster.”

“I felt happy they thought I was good enough to play. But the fact of the matter is, I couldn’t get an opportunity or the world title. I knew I was going to be left out 48 hours before. So for me, my entire goal was to make sure I can contribute to the guys and help us win a title because I played a part in it,” he added.