Ashwin recalls Ravi Shastri's remark that 'absolutely crushed' him

India's spin maestro Ravichandran Ashwin who is currently in South Africa revealed that he was stunned when former head coach Ravi Shastri's said that Kuldeep Yadav was India's lead overseas spinner after he took 5 wickets in 2019 against Australia.

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Like every other player, Ashwin who has had a fantastic 2021 had a rough patch in his career, however, the remark from the then coach and comparisons with other players frustrated him. Recalling India's historic series win Down Under to ESPNCricinfo, the cricketer revealed that though he was genuinely happy with Kuldeep Yadav's achievement, Ravi Shastri's remarks absolutely crushed him. I felt I was being thrown under the bus, he said.

Ashwin also disclosed that due to the recurring injuries he played the first Test in excruciating pain. Despite this, he managed to take 3 wickets in each innings of the first Test that India won.