‘Ravi Shastri is right’ – Former India selector Sarandeep Singh backs ex-coach over Ravi Ashwin’s ‘crushed’ remark

Former Team India selector Sarandeep Singh has backed ex-coach Ravi Shastri over the latter’s comments on off-spinner Ravi Ashwin. Earlier, Shastri, who recently bowed out as the national head coach, called Kuldeep Yadav Team India’s No.1 tweaker in overseas conditions and the comments didn’t go down well with Ashwin by any stretch of the imagination.

Shastri’s comments had come after Kuldeep picked up a five-wicket haul against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Ashwin later said that he felt crushed by Shastri’s comments. Thereafter, responding to the spinner’s comments, Shastri mentioned that his job was to put forth opinions going by facts and figures.

“My job is not to butter everyone’s toast. My job is to state facts without agenda. If my statement on Kuldeep (Yadav) hurt Ashwin, I’m glad I made that statement. It made him do something different,” Shastri told.

Sarandeep Singh has his support for Shastri

Singh, also a former Indian cricketer, took a stand for Shastri, saying that the latter didn’t make any wrong remark and it was Ashwin, who misinterpreted him to some extent. Singh also lauded Ashwin and backed him to come good in India’s Test series against South Africa.

“Ashwin took the comment in a wrong way. I was also there on the tour with Team India about which Shastri is talking. He meant to say that Kuldeep is a better bowler for us on overseas tour because his bowling style is different and Ashwin took this in another way and yes Shastri is right, his job is not to butter everyone toast.

“Ashwin is a great bowler who has produced good bowling style in the African conditions. Also, he can be a game-changer for us. I don’t think this will be his last tour as he has got a lot to perform,” Sarandeep was quoted as saying in Times Now.

Ashwin recently surpassed Harbhajan Singh to become India’s second-most successful spinner in Test cricket after Anil Kumble. Ashwin accomplished the feat during the two-match Test series against New Zealand at home.

Ashwin, recently made his comeback in limited-overs cricket when he took part in the T20 World Cup 2021. He’s most likely to make the cut for the three-match ODI series as well.