Former India speedster Venkatesh Prasad came up with a heartwarming message for India’s veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin after he spoke about his elimination from the WTC 2023 final of India’s playing XI against Australia. The Indian team decided to pick Ravindra Jadeja over Ashwin in the playing XI and lost the game against Australia at the Oval in London.
The Tamil Nadu-based spinner talked about his exclusion and that is when Prasad came in support of the spinner. "So much depth, empathy and awareness. What a champion is @ashwinravi99, on the field and off it," he tweeted.
Earlier, Ashwin in the chat with The Indian Express talked about his bowling and how he reacted after he got excluded from the playing XI during WTC final 2023 against Australia.
“It's a hard question to answer, right? 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," he said.
"I am looking at it as a captain or coach and I'm just talking in hindsight, in their defence. 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," Ashwin added.
Earlier, in the latest ICC Test rankings, the Tamil Nadu-based bowler continued to be at the number 1 spot despite not playing World Test Championship final against Australia. Talking about now, Ashwin is taking part in the ongoing Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL), playing for Dindigul Dragons where he picked the wicket in just his second delivery of the match.