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In a throwback video, Ravichandran Ashwin can be seen having a bit of fun with the Indian cricket team support staff as he asks them to show their bowling skills.
Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from international cricket on Wednesday. (Screengrab)
Ravichandran Ashwin is a fierce competitor on the field but off the field, he’s just a ‘chill guy’. The legendary offspinner, who announced his retirement from international cricket, is seen having a bit of fun with the Indian cricket team’s support staff in a throwback video as he gives them some handy bowling lessons.
In the clip, Ashwin can be seen asking the members of the backroom staff to show him their bowling skills during what appears like an indoor training session.
Alongside Ashwin, India allrounder Washington Sundar and fast bowler Prasidh Krishna were also part of the fun session.
At one point in the clip, Ashwin requests a member to bowl from outside the mat.
The 38-year-old announced he’s retiring from international cricket with immediate effect on Wednesday after the end of the third Test between India and Australia in Brisbane.
While Ashwin didn’t explain his sudden decision to quit international cricket midway through a series, there have been reports that the offie wasn’t willing to warm the benches unless the team needs him in the playing XI.
A report claims that Ashwin only wanted to be part of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy if he was guaranteed a spot in India’s playing XI. He wasn’t picked for the series opener in Perth but played in the day-night Test in Adelaide.
However, Ashwin was again consigned to the bench in the rain-marred third Test in Brisbane which ended in a draw.
Ashwin has arrived in Chennai.
Former India cricketer WV Raman feels that it’s possible Ashwin didn’t see any point in hanging around if his presence isn’t going to make any difference.
“He (Ashwin) has been around for a long, long time. Perhaps, he must have felt that if he’s not going to really make any difference or make any contribution, there’s no point in hanging around,” Raman was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
“Let’s face it for somebody who has been as combative and as competitive as Ashwin has been, and for a match-winner that he’s been over a long period of time, it’s not a great situation to be thinking in his mind ‘To be or not to be’, what is better,” he added.
