Ravichandran Ashwin Slams "Superstar" Culture In Indian Team: 'Rohit Sharma Or Virat Kohli...'

Since announcing his retirement from international cricket during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy last December, veteran all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has become more active on social media, especially on YouTube. His candid insights and thought-provoking views have gained a lot of attention from fans and fellow cricketers alike. In a recent video on his Hindi YouTube channel, 'Ash Ki Baat', Ashwin shared his thoughts on the celebrity culture surrounding Indian cricketers, urging the players to stay grounded.

Ashwin strongly emphasized the need to normalize the approach in Indian cricket, advocating for players to focus on their roles as athletes rather than adopting a "superstar" or "celebrity" mentality. He believes that cricketers should be relatable to the common people, someone the public can resonate with and look up to. He mentioned, "We are cricketers, not actors or superstars. We must be sportspersons, and our goals should be bigger than personal accolades."

Ashwin also pointed to examples of star players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, stressing that even after achieving monumental success, their focus should remain on the team rather than individual milestones. For these players, hitting a century should be "business as usual," and they must always keep the team’s goals in mind.

With the Champions Trophy approaching, Ashwin raised concerns regarding the inclusion of five spinners—Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, and Varun Chakravarthy—in the 15-man squad. He questioned whether having so many spinners in the team, especially for matches in Dubai, was the best choice. According to Ashwin, Axar and Jadeja, who are top all-rounders, should definitely be included, along with Kuldeep, but he wondered whether there was room for Varun Chakravarthy without leaving out a pacer. He suggested that Hardik Pandya could take on the role of the second pacer, which might leave a spinner out if they wanted to bring in another fast bowler.

As the Indian team heads to Dubai for their opening match against Bangladesh, Ashwin’s views on team composition and the importance of team goals over personal achievements serve as a reminder of the balance needed in international cricket. India’s refusal to travel to Pakistan for the tournament has added extra intrigue to the Champions Trophy, and Ashwin’s insight will likely spark further discussion about India’s preparation and strategies heading into the competition.