‘I was fully prepared to play the game’ – Ravichandran Ashwin talks about his exclusion from WTC 2023 final squad after taking fifer against West Indies

India’s veteran off-spinner and the no. 1 ranked Test bowler in the world, Ravichandran Ashwin made his comeback in the Indian Test team against West Indies and displayed a brilliant bowling performance right away. Ashwin picked up a fifer during Day 1 of the 1st Test and proved how crucial he can be for the team.

Ashwin was dropped from the Test squad for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023 final where India suffered an embarrassing 209-run loss against Australia. Many fans and cricket experts criticised the Indian team management for excluding Ashwin from the squad. The 36-year-old bowler talked about his exclusion from the grand event and said that he was mentally prepared that he was not going to play the match.

“I’ve spoken about it. It’s very tough as a cricketer when you have a WTC final and end up sitting out. All that is fine. But what is the difference between me and another person if I also end up sulking in the dressing room? When we went to the WTC final, I was mentally prepared to play. I had prepared physically and mentally, planned for the game, everything. But, I was also prepared to not play the game,” Ashwin was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

I would have played a good role in it: Ravichandran Ashwin

Ashwin further said that winning the WTC final was the most important thing for the team. However, the star bowler also believes that he could’ve played a vital role if he was in the playing XI. But it was unfortunate that his place in the squad didn’t pan out as it was also not suited for the overseas condition.

“If I’m not playing, how do I respond? How do I make sure the dressing room is up and about? Winning the WTC final is the most important thing, it could be a very high point in my career and I would have played a good role in it. It was just unfortunate, it didn’t pan out. The first day just left us too much behind in the shed. All I’d like to give to my teammates and Indian cricket as a whole is some understanding and my best efforts on the field and I’d like to leave it at that,” he added.