- Missed out on first Test before being picked in Adelaide
- Retired suddenly after drawn Brisbane Test
- His dad has had his say, much to his son’s embarrassment
Parents can still be embarrassing even when you are world-famous and pushing 40 – just ask Indian cricket superstar Ravichandran Ashwin.
The gifted spinner shocked the cricket world after the drawn Test against Australia in Brisbane by appearing in the post-match media conference and announcing his retirement from the international side, effective immediately.
His resignation came amid swirling rumours that he was out of favour with coach Gautum Gambhir while captain Rohit Sharma was pushing for his inclusion at the expense of young spinner Washington Sundar.
Now Ashwin’s father, who is also named Ravichandran, has weighed into the debate.
He has declared that his son might have retired due to the sheer humilation of not being selected, forcing Ashwin junior to rush to set the record straight.
‘I too came to know last minute, actually. What was going on in his mind, I don’t know,’ Ravichandran Ashwin Senior told CNN News18.
Ravichandran Ashwin (pictured holding the ball) ended his glittering Test career for India in a sudden announcement after the Brisbane Test against Australia
The prolific spinner (pictured with his family) has been at the centre of rumours he was on the outer with coach Gautum Gambhir
Ashwin’s dad (pictured right with the star) thinks his son might have quit over the ‘humilation’ of not being selected
‘He just announced. I too, accepted it with full pleasure. I did not have any feelings at all about that. But the way he gave his retirement, one part I was very happy, another part not happy because he should have continued.
‘[Retiring] is his wish and desire, I cannot interfere in that, but the way in which he gave that, there could be many reasons. Only Ashwin knows, maybe humiliation.’
Ashwin junior then went online and confusingly blamed the media for tricking his father, before trying to dismiss it as a careless slip of the tongue.
‘My dad isn’t media trained,’ he posted.
‘dey father enna da ithelaam?’ – which translates to ‘what is the matter?’ in Tamil.
‘I never thought you would follow this rich tradition of ‘dad statements’. Request you all to forgive him and leave him alone.’
Meanwhile, India is not the only side suffering from selection dramas, with Australia confirming rookie opener Nathan McSweeney has been dropped for the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
Sam Konstas is set for a whirlwind Test debut after being called up for the final two matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the expense of McSweeney.
Nathan McSweeney has been dumped by Cricket Australia officials after just three matches
Sam Konstas becomes the fourth youngest Test debutant in Australian history on Boxing Day
Teenage batting prodigy Konstas was on Friday included in Australia’s 15-player squad for the remainder of the series against India, with paceman Jhye Richardson the other new face replacing injured Josh Hazlewood.
At 19 years and 85 days, Konstas would become the fourth youngest Test debutant in Australian history if selected for the Boxing Day Test, and youngest since current captain Pat Cummins in 2011.
‘Sam gets a call up to the Test squad for the first time. His style of batting offers a point of difference and we look forward to watching his game develop further,’ chief selector George Bailey said.
Konstas’ inclusion has pushed McSweeney out of the frame after both he and fellow opener Usman Khawaja misfired across the first three Tests against India.
Neither has made a score above 40 this series, but it is the recent debutant who has been made to pay the price.
