Ravichandran Ashwin expressed admiration and envy for Ravindra Jadeja’s effortless prowess, acknowledging their contrasting cricketing journeys.
Ravichandran Ashwin stands among India’s premier Test spinners, claiming 489 wickets in 94 Tests, ranking ninth in the all-time leading wicket-takers list. His career coincides with Ravindra Jadeja’s, forming a formidable duo that secured 500 wickets in 49 Tests together. Both are proficient batsmen too.
Despite Ashwin’s superior record and experience, he admitted envy for Jadeja’s effortless delivery, contrasting it with his analytical approach.
“One person that I am always envious of, I am not a jealous person, but I’m very envious of this one person, not anybody else. The greatest cricketer at this point of time, the most sellable cricket of the most attractive cricketer today is Virat Kohli. However, the most envious I am of one cricketer is Ravindra Jadeja,” Ashwin said when speaking on Sportstar.
“Ravindra Jadeja’s journey and my journey are extremely contrasting. Ravindra Jadeja can put a ball on the same spot day in and day out be extremely athletic on field and keep it extremely simple with the bat and be a million dollars on most days. I cannot do that,” he added.
Ashwin further acknowledged an enduring rivalry with Jadeja over superiority but emphasized their interdependence. He highlighted their inseparability, asserting that neither exists without the other’s presence.
“For some reason, I couldn’t express this to him for a long time. But I found a way to express this to him. I think there is a constant tussle, even between us, about who’s even better than the other. But the fact is we don’t exist without one another,” Ashwin said.
“Without Jadeja there is no Ashwin, without Ashwin, there is no Jadeja but it doesn’t take away from the fact that he is extremely good at keeping it very simple and not overthinking it. I cannot put the ball the same spot or bat like how I do if I don’t be curious and if I don’t overthink. He cannot be who he is if he is constantly overthinking it. So this is a classic case of people plying similar trades and finding success in their own ways,” he concluded.
Last Updated on December 1, 2023
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