'His career speaks for himself man' - Rohit Sharma defends Ravi Ashwin's performances amid criticism around spinner
"Look at the Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards that Ashwin has won," said Rohit Sharma.
India's captain Rohit Sharma has stepped forward to defend his teammate, Ravichandran Ashwin, amidst the recent criticism surrounding the spinner's performance during the Test series against England. Despite being the top wicket-taker of the series with 26 wickets, Ashwin faced backlash for not achieving a five-wicket haul in the initial matches, despite registering commendable figures of 3/68 and 3/72.
Drawing parallels to Virat Kohli's centuries, Rohit emphasized the correlation between Ashwin's success and his five-wicket hauls. The scrutiny intensified after a less impressive performance in Rajkot, where Ashwin only managed to secure two wickets. However, he swiftly turned the tables, claiming 5/51 in Ranchi and 5/77 in Dharamsala, surpassing Anil Kumble's record for the most five-wicket hauls by an Indian in Tests.
Speaking candidly on his Instagram handle 'Team Ro', Rohit defended Ashwin's consistency, highlighting the immense pressure the spinner faces, especially when playing in India.
"Ravi Ash… his career speaks for himself man. Look at the Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards that he has won. Tells you clearly that he has been a match-winner for Team India. Whenever we play in India, this guy puts his hand up all the time. And to me, it doesn't matter whether you play in or outside India. Imagine the amount of pressure he has to go through," Rohit said.
Acknowledging Ashwin's personal challenges, Rohit underscored the spinner's dedication by recounting his withdrawal from the Rajkot Test to attend to his unwell mother. Rohit further reminded critics that Ashwin, like any other player, is susceptible to fluctuations in form. However, he praised Ashwin's consistent performance on home soil, despite the absence of traditionally favorable pitch conditions. Rohit urged detractors to recognize Ashwin's resilience and unwavering commitment to the team's success.
"If there is an inning where he has not taken wickets, people start talking 'Oh, he is not bowling well. This is happening, that is happening. Arre bhai… insaan hai (Boss, he is human). At the end of the day, he is trying his best. But imagine, for him, to come out on top every time being in this situation, and to do it and keep delivering series after series says a lot about what kind of a performer he is," added the India captain.
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