The Indian cricket team faced an unprecedented defeat, suffering a 0-3 whitewash in the home Test series against New Zealand. This marked the first time in history that India has been whitewashed in a series comprising three or more Tests at home. Senior off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin described the series loss as a “shattering experience,” taking full responsibility for the team’s performance
SOURCE : ZEE
In an emotional statement on his YouTube channel, Ashwin expressed his deep disappointment, saying, “I don’t know how to respond or react to this series loss. I know that in my career and in my experience in cricket, we don’t have so many emotions when we play. But it’s a very shattering experience. That’s the right word for it. I didn’t know how to respond or react to it for the last two or three days.”
Source:- bbc news
Ashwin, who has been a key player for India over the years, managed to take only nine wickets in six innings at an average of 41.22. His best figures in the series were 3/63. Reflecting on his performance, Ashwin admitted, “I expect a lot from myself. I am a guy who says I am the reason for everything that went wrong. I am also a big reason and a big part of it (series loss). I couldn’t contribute to the lower-order runs. As a bowler, I know that runs are a vital currency for a bowler. I started well in many places, then I threw it away on a couple of occasions. I put my best but it wasn’t enough.”
The series loss has been a significant blow to the Indian cricket team, which had gone unbeaten in home Test series for the last 12 years. Ashwin emphasized the importance of learning from this defeat, saying, “Losing is okay. Nobody is invincible. Our first mistake is to think we are invincible. I do not think like that. After 20 days, when we reflect, we will have clarity. I expect closure. There should be a conclusion. Only if there is a conclusion, we can learn from it. There is no finish line. It is only a starting line for what you do next.”
Ashwin also praised New Zealand for their exceptional performance, noting that they played fantastic cricket throughout the series. He highlighted the quick nature of the pitches, which eliminated the possibility of LBW dismissals, making it difficult for the Indian bowlers to exploit the conditions
As the Indian cricket team prepares for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, Ashwin’s words serve as a reminder of the challenges and resilience required in the world of cricket. The team will undoubtedly use this experience as a stepping stone to come back stronger in future matches
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