'I felt crushed' - Ravi Ashwin on Ravi Shastri referring Kuldeep Yadav as India's best overseas spinner in 2019

India’s ace spinner Ravi Ashwin is regarded as one of the best in business across the world and his records are unmatchable when it comes to the red-ball game. Ashwin recently opened up in detail regarding an incident featuring Ravi Shastri and Kuldeep Yadav, which hurt me completely. In 2019, during the rain-marred Sydney Test, Yadav breathed fire and clinched a classy five-for against hosts.

After the same incident, India’s former head coach added that Kuldeep is their best overseas spinner now and that everyone has a time, referring to Ashwin. Speaking on the same, the off-spinner added that he felt being crushed absolutely even though he has high regard for Shastri. “There is a time for everyone (referring to Ashwin’s fitness and injury issues). But now Kuldeep is our frontline number one overseas spinner,” said Shastri back then.

“I hold Ravi bhai in high esteem. We all do. And I understand we all can say things and then retract them. 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,” said Ashwin while speaking to The Cricket Monthly.

Detailing further on the topic, Ashwin made a point that to enjoy a teammate’s success, one needs to feel part of the team but that was not the case with him. The senior spinner felt being thrown under the bus but still joined the celebration as India had won the massive series Down Under.

“If I have to come and partake in his (Kuldeep’s) 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,” added Ashwin.