'That’s quite an unfair assessment' - Ravichandran Ashwin attributes perception of being overthinker for missing on leadership roles

Ravichandran Ashwin has been a bowler who utilises his mental ability to the fullest when he is on the field. It is evident when he outsmarted Glenn Maxwell anticipating a reverse sweep or the famous Mankad incident from the IPL. But, the veteran spinner never got an opportunity to lead the Indian side in his long career. Though he led Punjab Kings in the IPL for a brief period, he was sidelined form captaincy thereafter. Speaking of the same he has attributed that shortcoming to his overthinking attitude. 

Ashwin surpassed the milestone of 500 wickets and became only the second Indian bowler to achieve this feat. He also crossed the landmark of representing India 100 times in whites. All of these achievements came in a Test series against England. He was felicitated by the BCCI at Dharamsala, where he completed his 100^th Test match. He was then honoured by the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association for his outstanding contribution to Indian cricket.

“Everybody has unique methods. A method that’s worked for me, will not work for (Ravindra) Jadeja. The cricket community likes to keep it really simple. Unless it’s completely broken, they wouldn’t try to mend it. But I come from a school where even before it’s broken, I want to make sure I stitch it up and don’t get to a point where it’s broken. Why is it happening? That’s the question that people fail to recognise,” Ashwin said as quoted by The Indian Express.

Also Read: 'I used to lock myself in the room' - Ravichandran Ashwin opens up on battling mental health demons beyond cricket field

“I am addressing something before they believe I should address it. Because their journey is different and mine is different. They might get five opportunities but I will get only two. And I made peace with the fact that I will only get two. It’s not like I change my action and tomorrow if I am leading a side, I would go to Jadeja and tell him that he should change his action. I’m not that dumb. In a way, people just assumed that that’s how it could be. They just thought he would not fit the bill as a leader and that’s quite an unfair assessment,” he added.

Ashwin ‘indebted’ to MS Dhoni for trust

Ashwin’s red-letter day in cricket came when MS Dhoni handed the new ball to him against Chris Gayle in IPL 2011 final. He was yet to make his India debut and the spinner became a household name when he plucked Gayle’s wicket. Eventually Chennai Super Kings went on to clinch the coveted IPL Trophy. 13 years down the line, he attributes his skyrocketing cricket career to Dhoni, who trusted him with the most difficult tasks. He also said that he is forever ‘indebted’ to him.