The wounds from India’s heartbreaking loss in the World Test Championship (WTC) final are still fresh, especially for Ravichandran Ashwin. The veteran off-spinner, who was overlooked for the playing XI and had to witness Australia emerge as champions, expressed his feelings in a recent interview. Ashwin delivered what could be seen as a last message to captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid, invoking the leadership style of MS Dhoni.

Despite being India’s highest wicket-taker in the WTC final over the past two cycles, Ashwin was left out in favor of an extra seamer. In his YouTube show, Ashwin congratulated the Pat Cummins-led Australian team for their deserving victory. He acknowledged that there was a slight advantage for Australia, as some players like Marnus Labuschagne had prior experience playing in county cricket.

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Ravichandran Ashwin addressed the social media reactions criticizing the Indian team’s inability to win an ICC trophy for over a decade. Many posts referenced MS Dhoni, who led India to three ICC trophy victories. Ashwin highlighted the importance of the sense of security Dhoni provided to the players by sticking with a consistent squad throughout the year.

“It is understandable that there’s a furor in India that we haven’t won an ICC trophy in 10 years. I empathize with the fans. But the reaction on social media is that this player should be dropped and that player should be included. But quality of a player doesn’t change overnight. Lot of us talk about MS Dhoni’s leadership. What did he do? He kept it very simple. Under his regime, where I also played, he will pick a squad of 15. The same squad of 15 and the XI will play throughout the year. That sense of security is very important for a player,” Ravichandran Ashwin explained.

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This is not the first time Ashwin has emphasized the significance of instilling a “sense of security” in players. In a recent interview, he discussed the “overthinker” label attributed to him, revealing that the uncertainty of only getting a few chances compared to those assured of a longer run can lead to feeling traumatized and overthinking.

Ashwin’s comments shed light on the dynamics within the team and the impact of leadership decisions on players’ confidence. As India reflects on their defeat in the WTC final, Ashwin’s words serve as a reminder of the importance of stability and trust in nurturing players’ performances.