Former Indian player Saba Karim has stated that Team India head coach Rahul Dravid’s role will be very important when it comes to maintaining a healthy environment in the Indian team post the off-field incidents in Indian cricket that took place recently. Although they did well in Test cricket, they have come under the scanner for their recent off-field incidents.
After Virat Kohli’s sudden sacking from the ODI leadership and contradictory statements made by him and BCCI president Sourav Ganguly recently, another fresh controversy happened when the veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin revealed some secrets including how he got a little backing during the Kohli-Shastri era.
Speaking on YouTube channel Khelneeti, Saba Karim said:
“Very difficult to maintain a healthy team environment when such things come out (Ashwin’s statement on Shastri). Rahul Dravid’s role will be very important. Captain shouldn’t feel under pressure because of such developments.”
“In that moment, though, I felt crushed” – Ravichandran Ashwin
However, Team India will start their South Africa series later this week with the first Test taking place at SuperSport Park on Boxing Day. During the recent interview with ESPNCricinfo, Ashwin also shared how he felt ‘crushed’ after former coach Ravi Shastri’s statement on Kuldeep Yadav after the 2019 Sydney Test.
Kuldeep, who replaced an injured Ashwin for the Sydney Test, scalped a five-wicket haul in his maiden Test Down Under as well and Shastri referred to him as India’s No.1 spinner in overseas conditions.
While responding to this, Ravichandran Ashwin said: “I hold Ravi bhai in high esteem. We all do. In that moment, though, I felt crushed. Absolutely crushed. We all talk about how important it is to enjoy your team-mates’ success. And I was happy for Kuldeep. I have not been able to get a five-for but he has a five-for in Australia. I know how big it is. Even when I have bowled well [at other times], I haven’t ended up with a five-for. So I am genuinely happy for him. And it’s an extremely happy occasion, to win in Australia.”
He further added:
“But if I have to come and partake in his happiness, and the success of the team, I must feel like I belong there. If I feel like I am being thrown under the bus, how am I supposed to get up and come for a party to enjoy the team’s or team-mate’s success? I went back to my room and then I spoke to my wife. And my children were there. So we were able to, you know, shrug it off, and I still made it to the party, because, end of the day, we had won a massive series.”
“Ashwin must be disappointed” – Nikhil Chopra
While talking about that, former India cricketer Nikhil Chopra has said that Ravichandran Ashwin has the right to be disappointed, sharing that one can’t give different treatment to different players in the team as well.
“Shastri labelled Kuldeep Yadav as the best overseas spinner. While at times you need to say these things to give confidence to a player, you need to ensure you don’t disrespect other members of the team. Ashwin must be disappointed. You cannot have different treatments for different players,” Chopra said.
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