Ashwin Clarifies: No Kisses in the Dressing Room

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Ravichandran Ashwin possesses a remarkable ability to articulate his thoughts as effectively as he demonstrates his cricketing prowess. He does not shy away from showcasing this talent. Engaging with Ashwin is rarely a monotonous experience; he has a unique gift for captivating his audience, which is just one of his many attributes—without even delving into his exceptional off-spin bowling or batting skills. He entertains his listeners by maintaining their interest, not merely by presenting himself as a fountain of knowledge. With an occasional jest, a playful remark, or an insightful revelation, he strikes the ideal balance. His interactions with the media and his YouTube channel serve as compelling evidence of this. However, as he approached the twilight of his career, Ashwin felt compelled to reveal his true self and dispel certain misconceptions. This led to the creation of "I Have The Streets: A Kutty Cricket Story."

Released in July of this year, Ashwin's memoir came just five months prior to his announcement of retirement from international cricket during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Currently in Chennai, Ashwin, who participated in only one of the three Tests in Australia before his retirement, was invited to discuss his book in a Sky Sports podcast hosted by former England captain Michael Atherton. Ashwin expressed his desire for people to understand his true character, which he feels often gets overshadowed by his cricketing persona.

One prevalent misconception about him, Ashwin noted, is that many perceive him as overly serious and lacking the enjoyment that Virat Kohli exhibits while playing.

"I wanted people to recognize me for who I truly am, as often, when I take a wicket, Virat Kohli is exuberantly celebrating. He is animated, and this leads many to assume that I am the serious one while Virat is the one having all the fun. Consequently, someone once asked me why I always appear so serious. My response is that I am not inherently serious; however, when I am facing a challenging situation with the ball in hand, aiming to secure a Test match victory for my country, my focus intensifies because I am fully engaged in the moment," Ashwin explained.

Ashwin, who has achieved 37 five-wicket hauls—the highest by an Indian in Test cricket—along with 11 Player of the Series awards, the most in the format, remarked that he has never celebrated his achievements in a flamboyant manner. He noted that he would not blow kisses to his wife, who is often present in the stands, upon reaching a milestone.

"Frequently, you will not observe me celebrating a five-wicket haul by sending a kiss through the blade of my bat to my spouse, whether she is in the dressing room or the hospitality box. I felt that much of my identity was overshadowed by my accomplishments. Therefore, I aimed to express this aspect of myself in my book," Ashwin stated.

‘I’m the MVP of my cricket': Ashwin

India's second-highest wicket-taker across all formats, with a total of 765 wickets, expressed that Indian cricket has been fortunate to have legends such as Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma. However, he emphasized that it would be a grave mistake to regard other players merely as a "support cast." He underscored that cricket is fundamentally a team sport and asserted that he will always consider himself the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in his own narrative.

"There is a prevalent tendency to focus solely on figures like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma when discussing Indian cricket, and I aim to alter this perception over time. In my youth, I often spoke of Sachin and other prominent figures. My message to everyone is that while these players are indeed remarkable cricketers, it is misguided for outsiders to view others as mere supporting players. Cricket is a team endeavor. In my life, whether for my father or mother, I am the MVP. It is not Rohit, Virat, or anyone else from the outside; rather, each individual's journey is distinct. For me, I have always been the MVP, and I continue to be the MVP of my cricketing experience," he stated.

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