Veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin found himself excluded from India’s preliminary squad for the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023. The selectors opted for a trio of left-arm spinners, leaving the veteran spinner out in the cold.
Ashwin, reflecting on his illustrious yet tumultuous career, spoke passionately about his dedication to the Indian cricket team.
“I have been a member of Team India for the past 14–15 years. I’ve experienced fantastic moments with the team. Recently I had a conversation with Abhinav Bindra. He said that he’s failed more often than he succeeded,” he said on his YouTube channel.
“I’ve also experienced my fair share of failures. I have inked Indian cricket very close to my heart. I’ll be ready and willing to give my everything if they need me even tomorrow,” he added.
Ashwin acknowledged the parallel between his journey and Indian shooter Abhinav Bindra’s, emphasizing that he has encountered both failures and successes but remains dedicated to serving the national team.
While Ashwin has been an integral part of India’s Test side in recent years, he has had a less consistent presence in white-ball formats. His last appearance in an ODI was back in January 2022, and his stint in the T20s ended after the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final loss to England.