Team India failed to end their ICC trophy drought once again and suffered a humiliating 209-run defeat against Australia in the 2023 World Test Championship (WTC) final at The Oval in June earlier in the year. Interestingly, No.1 ranked Test bowler Ravichandran Ashwin was dropped from India's playing XI for the summit clash against Australia. With the pitch covered in grass, Rohit and the Indian management decided to go with a four-pacer-one-spinner combination for the final. As it turned out, India missed Ashwin's services immensely as they were tricked by the grass covering the pitch.
Ashwin, who bagged a five-wicket haul against West Indies on Day 1 of the ongoing first Test in Dominica, reflected on missing the WTC final.
"As a cricketer when you have a shot at a WTC Final and to sit out is fine. For me, it was how do I respond and how do I make sure the dressing room is up and about," Ashwin said after Day 1.
“Winning the WTC Final is the most important thing and it could have been a very high point in my career and I could have played a good role in it, but it was just unfortunate that it didn’t pan out and the first day left us too far behind in the shed," he added.
In Ashwin's absence, the Indian bowling attack looked toothless for the major part of the WTC final. India conceded 469 runs in the first innings and 270/8 in the second innings before Australia decided to declare.
Former cricketers and fans heavily criticised Rohit and the team management excluding the veteran off-spinner from the playing XI. The decision also came as a surprise to many onlookers because Ashwin was India's leading wicket-taker during WTC 2021-23 cycle.
Ashwin, though, doesn't believe in sulking after being snubbed from a crunch match. The veteran office looks forward to giving his best whenever he dons the India threads.
"But what is the difference between me and another person that is going to sulk (about being dropped). All I would like to give my teammates and India cricket as a whole is some understanding and my best efforts on the field and that is where I would like to leave it," said Ashwin.
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