Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has voiced his concerns over the perceived double standards in team selection that have often sidelined veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. Gavaskar’s remarks come in the wake of Ashwin’s sudden decision to retire from international cricket midway through the ongoing Test series in Australia. In his column for Midday, Gavaskar expressed disappointment at how Ashwin’s contributions, particularly as an all-rounder, were undervalued despite his stellar achievements.
“Cricket Favors Batters Over Bowlers”
Gavaskar highlighted the dominance of batters in the cricketing narrative, pointing out how Ashwin’s incredible record of winning the most Player of the Series awards, alongside Muttiah Muralitharan, didn’t earn him the respect he deserved.
“Cricket is a batter’s game,” Gavaskar wrote. “Even though Ashwin often clinched Player of the Series awards, it didn’t earn him enough appreciation within the batter-dominated fraternity. Any minor excuse to exclude him from the playing XI, under the guise of ‘team balance,’ was quickly acted upon.”
Selective Criteria for Team Selection
The batting legend also called out the inconsistency in the selection process, noting that while Ashwin was frequently left out due to pitch and condition-based considerations, the same standard wasn’t applied to underperforming batters.
“At home, Ashwin was indispensable because the team management knew they couldn’t win without him. However, when playing abroad, the excuse was often that the conditions didn’t favor him, even though lesser-ranked batters were retained despite struggling under similar conditions,” Gavaskar argued.
Ashwin’s Leadership and Farewell Neglected
Gavaskar also criticized the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the selection committee for not acknowledging Ashwin’s leadership potential or giving him the recognition he deserved. Despite being a natural leader, Ashwin was never considered for vice-captaincy, let alone captaincy.
“There was an opportunity to honor Ashwin with a farewell Test match or a limited-overs series, but even that was denied to him,” Gavaskar lamented.
Rohit’s Gesture Stands Out
While disappointed by the system’s treatment of Ashwin, Gavaskar praised Indian captain Rohit Sharma for showing respect during Ashwin’s 100th Test match.
“It was heartwarming to see Rohit Sharma ask Ashwin to lead the team onto the field during his 100th Test. It was a small but meaningful gesture to honor a player who has given so much to Indian cricket,” he noted.
Legacy of an Overlooked Legend
Ashwin’s retirement has reignited discussions about how the game values bowlers and the criteria for selection in Indian cricket. Gavaskar’s reflections serve as a reminder of Ashwin’s immense contributions and the systemic changes needed to ensure fair recognition for players in the future.
