Former India National Cricket Team spinner Ravichandran Ashwin opened up about why his celebrations after taking the wicket aren’t as expressive as Virat Kohli’s. He stressed that he always believed that he had a job in his hand and his mind was stuck in the process.
Ravichandran Ashwin ended his career as one of the best bowlers to have played the game of cricket. The off-spinner retired after the third Test against the Australia National Cricket Team, which took place at the Gabba in Brisbane and ended in a draw.
Ravichandran Ashwin ended his career with 537 wickets in the longest format of the game
Ashwin, who was known for his calm and composed nature, often looked very serious on the field. This was quite evident with the way he displayed muted celebrations after taking wickets and wasn’t as fierce as some of his teammates, especially Virat Kohli
Ravichandran Ashwin, often after taking the wickets, was seen going back to his guard. He wasn’t as excited by taking wickets as some of the other bowlers. He ended his career with 537 wickets in the longest format of the game and is the second leading wicket-taker for India in Tests.
I wanted people to know me for who I am because a lot of times, Ashwin is picking up a wicket, and Virat Kohli is all over the place – Ravichandran Ashwin
While talking about his celebrations, he said that Virat Kohli, with his aggressive celebrations, made people believe that Ravichandran Ashwin is a serious character. He said that he wasn’t a serious guy but was mostly stuck in the process. Speaking to Sky Sports, he explained:
“I wanted people to know me for who I am because a lot of times, Ashwin is picking up a wicket, and Virat Kohli is all over the place. He’s just jumping about, and people very often tend to believe that Ashwin’s the one that’s absolutely serious and Virat’s the one that’s having all the fun, which is why somebody asked me the question, ‘Why are you serious all the time?’
“My answer to that in the first place is I’m never a serious person, but when somebody is clobbering me and I have the ball in my hand to win a Test Match for my country, my mind is sticking, because I’m in the process.”
You don’t see me picking up a five-wicket haul and pushing across a kiss through the blade of my bat – Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin said that he doesn’t push across a kiss through the blade of his bat to his better half. But claimed that he wanted to bring that out in his book. He added:
“So very often, you don’t see me picking up a five-wicket haul and pushing across a kiss through the blade of my bat to my better half sitting in the dressing room or sitting in the hospitality box. So I felt like a lot of who I am got diluted in the fact of what I’ve become. So I wanted to bring that out in my book.”
Ashwin retired with 765 wickets across formats. He, however, will continue playing in club Cricket and will represent Chennai Super Kings in the IPL next year.
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