Former Indian national cricket team all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has hit out at Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for being in the limelight during his playing days. He said he always wanted to change the narrative of people who say he played under the shadow of batsmen.
Ravichandran Ashwin is undoubtedly one of the greatest match winners that the Indian national cricket team has produced. The all-rounder has single-handedly won many games for the team and helped them reach great heights, especially in the longest format of the game.
Ravichandran Ashwin retired as a legend of the game
Ravichandran Ashwin retired as a legend of the game as his impact on the game and Indian cricket was immense. The all-rounder had a very large stature in the game but it is fair to say that he did not have the same recognition and support as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
With the kind of contributions that Ravichandran Ashwin has made for the Indian national cricket team, it is fair to say that if he had achieved this in another country; would have been considered bigger than the game. But being in India, where batsmen usually get more support, Ashwin has always been in the shadow of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni and others.
Outsiders who think everyone plays a supporting cast are sorely mistaken – Ravichandran Ashwin
Ashwin, while mentioning Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, said he always wanted to change the narrative of people who think other players play as a supporting cast for two batsmen. Speaking on the Sky Sports Podcast, he explained;
“A lot of people talk about… When I talk about Indian cricket, that's one thing I want to change over the years. I am talking about Virat Kohli. They have talked a lot about Rohit over the years. When I was growing up, we talked a lot about Sachin, we talked about many other superstars and celebrities.
“But one message that I would leave, I want to leave this podcast or everybody, and I wanted to change it constantly, is not that these are not glorious cricketers, but people on the outside who think that all the world plays a supporting cast they are extremely wrong. .”
I am the MVP and Rohit is not, Virat Kohli – Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin mentioned that every player has his own journey and claimed that he is the MVP in his parents' life and not Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma. He said that cricket is the most important thing and he is the MVP. He elaborated:
“Because this is a sport and everybody's journey. Because the MVP in my life, for my father or my mother, I am the MVP and it is not Rohit, Virat or anyone else. Likewise, everyone's journey is unique and they are the protagonist of their journey.
“So it's really important to recognize that and for me, I've always been my MVP. And that's why I'm never afraid to give my thoughts or talk about what's on my mind. Because cricket is the most important thing and I am the MVP of my cricket.”