'Difficult to maintain good team environment when such things come out' - Saba Karim on R Ashwin's comments on Ravi Shastri

Former India wicketkeeper Saba Karim feels that maintaining a healthy team environment becomes difficult after revelations such as those made by R Ashwin recently. Ashwin admitted he was shattered when former head coach Ravi Shastri hailed Kuldeep Yadav as the team’s No. 1 overseas spinner.

Ashwin clarified that he was equally happy for Kuldeep’s success, but for a team member to enjoy the success of another, he must feel “I belong there”, which he did not feel at that point.

Reacting to his statements, Karim, while speaking on his YouTube channel Khelneeti, said: “Very difficult to maintain a healthy team environment when such things come out (Ashwin’s statement on Shastri). Rahul Dravid’s role will be very important. Captain shouldn’t feel under pressure because of such developments.”

Another former player Nikhil Chopra reckoned that while appreciating a player is entirely routine for any coach, they must ensure that another player is not felt disrespected or ignored.

“Shastri labelled Kuldeep Yadav as the best overseas spinner. While at times you need to say these things to give confidence to a player, you need to ensure you don’t disrespect other members of the team. Ashwin must be disappointed. You cannot have different treatments for different players.”

To enjoy the team’s or teammate’s success, a player must feel he belongs: R Ashwin

“I hold Ravi bhai in high esteem. We all do. In that moment, though, I felt crushed. Absolutely crushed. We all talk about how important it is to enjoy your team-mates’ success. And I was happy for Kuldeep. I have not been able to get a five-for but he has a five-for in Australia. I know how big it is. Even when I have bowled well [at other times], I haven’t ended up with a five-for. So, I am genuinely happy for him. And it’s an extremely happy occasion, to win in Australia,” Ashwin told ESPNcricinfo in a recent interview.

“But if I have to come and partake in his happiness, and the success of the team, I must feel like I belong there. If I feel like I am being thrown under the bus, how am I supposed to get up and come for a party to enjoy the team’s or team-mate’s success? I went back to my room and then I spoke to my wife. And my children were there. So we were able to, you know, shrug it off, and I still made it to the party, because, end of the day, we had won a massive series,” the India off-spinner added.