Ravichandran Ashwin in press conference© AFP
Veteran India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is on the cusp of his 100th Test. With 99 matches in the India whites to his name, Ashwin will feature in the longest format of the game for the 100th time as the national team takes on England in the 5th match of the series in Dharamsala, starting Thursday. As the entire cricketing fraternity is going ga-ga over Ashwin’s moment of history, former India spinner Laxman Sivaramakrishnan isn’t happy with the way he has been treated by the veteran spinner.
Taking to social media, Sivaramakrishnan claimed that Ashwin disconnected his calls and didn’t even reply to his congratulatory messages on the 100th Test milestone.
“Tried calling him a few times to wish him for his 100th Test. Just cut off my call. Sent him a message, no reply. That’s the respect we former cricketers get,” the former India spinner wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Tried calling him a few times to wish him for his 100th Test. Just cut off my call. Sent him a message, no reply. Thats the respect we former cricketers get
— Laxman Sivaramakrishnan (@LaxmanSivarama1) March 6, 2024
Sivaramakrishnan also issued a clarification as a person on social media accused him of disrespecting Ashwin.
This is a technical observation and not criticism, disrespect . This was with good intention. You people think offering suggestions is an insult or crime. God save you. I have been connected with 43 years of cricket experience. So i do have some knowledge of the game.
— Laxman Sivaramakrishnan (@LaxmanSivarama1) March 6, 2024
India and England will square off in the fifth and final Test of the series in Dharamshala from Thursday, which will be Ashwin’s 100th Test as well. In 99 Tests so far, Ashwin has taken 507 wickets at an average of 23.91, including 35 five-wicket hauls, with the best bowling figures of 7/59.
Combine it with his tally of 3,309 runs in 140 innings at an average of 26.14, with five centuries and 14 fifties and he is one of the most successful all-rounders of the modern era.
With ANI inputs
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