Ravichandran Ashwin, the cricket maestro known for his deceptive skills on the field, showcased his off-field prowess in handling banter with grace and humor. A recent interaction on social media highlighted his ability to respond classily even when reminded of challenging moments in his career.
The exchange unfolded after India and Tamil Nadu mates, Dinesh Karthik and Ashwin, engaged in banter on X. Karthik shared a picture from their interview on Star Sports before the World Cup warm-up game between India and England, which was unfortunately washed out by rain.
In response to Ashwin’s reaction, a Pakistani cricket fan took the opportunity to playfully tease the star Indian bowler. The fan recalled the 2014 Asia Cup tie when Shahid Afridi hit two memorable sixes against Ashwin. Instead of getting defensive, Ashwin responded with admirable sportsmanship.
The fan’s post read, “Shahid Afridi still remembers those two sixes.”
Ashwin’s reply was both humble and appreciative: “Those were really good shots, man. Really admired him as a great ball striker.”
This incident not only highlighted Ashwin’s ability to handle social media banter with maturity but also showcased his respect for Afridi’s cricketing prowess. It referred to a pivotal moment in the 2014 Asia Cup where Ashwin faced Afridi’s power-hitting brilliance.
In that intense encounter, India faced their arch-rivals in Mirpur, with Pakistan needing 10 runs off the last five balls. Afridi, well-set at the non-striker’s end, showcased his batting prowess by smashing two consecutive sixes off Ashwin’s deliveries. One soared over deep extra cover, and the other cleared long-on, securing Pakistan’s thrilling victory by just one wicket.