'I have failed more than I succeeded...': Veteran India cricketer on his place in Indian team
Reflecting on a conversation he had with Indian shooter Abhinav Bindra, Veteran cricketer shared his thoughts on his official YouTube channel.
Ravichandran Ashwin was not selected for India's preliminary squad for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, as the selectors opted for three left-arm spinners instead.
In a recent interview, Ashwin opened up about the highs and lows he has experienced throughout his extensive career. The seasoned spinner expressed his deep passion for Indian cricket and his unwavering commitment to contribute whenever the team requires his services.
Reflecting on a conversation he had with Indian shooter Abhinav Bindra, Ashwin shared his thoughts on his official YouTube channel:
"I have been playing for the last 14-15 years for Team India. I have had my great moments. I have had my fair share of failures too. I was talking to Abhinav Bindra that day. He said, 'I have failed more than I succeeded."
"Even I have had my fair share of failures and successes. But I have tattooed Indian cricket close to my heart. If they require my service even tomorrow, I will be ready and will give my 100 percent," he added.
While Ashwin has been a crucial player in India's Test team in recent years, he has not been consistently included in the white-ball formats.
The experienced player last participated in an ODI in January 2022. He was also part of India's squad for the T20 World Cup in 2022. However, he lost his place after India's defeat to England in the semi-finals.
Axar Patel surpassed Ravichandran Ashwin in the selection hierarchy and secured a spot in India's squad for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. Nevertheless, some fans expressed dissatisfaction with Axar's performance with the ball during the Super Fours of the Asia Cup 2023 against Sri Lanka on Tuesday.
Ashwin, on the other hand, believes that Axar should not be criticized for his recent bowling performances. He stated that the left-arm spinner will regain his rhythm as he bowls more overs, explaining:
"At this point of time, we are expecting a lot from Axar Patel. I feel like we should give some space. If we don't have Axar, who is doing that role? Shardul. What are you expecting from him? 5-6 or sometimes 8 overs and pick 2-3 wickets."
"We should expect the same from Axar," Ravichandran Ashwin continued. "As a bowler, we should understand what he is going through. Will Axar give you 10 overs every day? Maybe not. When the volume of overs comes down, he might end up pitching where he didn't intend it to. If he keeps bowling more overs and once he gets his confidence, he will be set."
Axar Patel conceded 29 runs in five overs and finished without taking any wickets on a spin-friendly track against Sri Lanka. However, he made a valuable contribution with the bat, scoring 26 runs to assist India in achieving a commendable total of 213 runs, ultimately leading to their victory.