Twitter Reactions World Test Championship (2021-23)

'Vadapao Politics expose kar diya bhai' - Fans abuzz as Ravichandran Ashwin says he knew 48 hours prior about his exclusion from WTC Final Playing XI

Ravichandran Ashwin opened up on his snub from the coveted WTC Final in a recent interview. Here's how fans reacted.

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Rohit Kumar
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Ravichandran Ashwin, India

Ravichandran Ashwin, India (Source: Twitter)

Last week, Team India lost the World Test Championship final to Australia; the team suffered a crushing 209-run loss at The Oval. Despite India's dismal performance in the game, Ravichandran Ashwin's absence from the starting XI was one of the main talking topics even after the game.

Ashwin, the premier spinner for India, discussed the WTC Final in an interview with Indian Express when asked if he is evaluated on abilities besides his traditional spinner role. “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,” said Ashwin.

"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.

“The problem is for a spinner to come into play, it must be the fourth innings. The fourth innings is a very crucial facet and for us to be able to put that amount of runs so the spinner can come into play, it’s completely a mindset thing,” Ashwin said.

Ravichandran Ashwin ended Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023 as the Man of the Series

When Australia toured India earlier this year for the Border-Gavaskar trophy, Ashwin was named the player of the series because he had taken 25 wickets in four games. Despite insisting that he ultimately missed out on the chance to assist India in winning a major trophy, the spinner was pleased with the support he received from the former players after being snubbed for the WTC Final.

"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," Ashwin said.

Here’s how fans reacted:

India featured Australia Ravichandran Ashwin WTC