'Maybe Virat wants to bat left-handed, try something new' - Ashwin on why practice games shouldn't be televised
"As an Indian cricketer, we’re always under the microscope. I hate playing games that are televised and not Tests," said Ashwin.
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Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin shared an interesting perspective on televised practice matches following India’s seven-wicket win over the West Indies in the second Test, which secured a 2-0 series victory for the hosts.
Ashwin revealed that he disliked playing practice matches that were broadcast live. He was commenting on the West Indies’ decision not to play any practice matches ahead of their series against India. The veteran spinner explained that practice matches are meant for experimentation and trying out new strategies. However, he pointed out that Indian cricketers are always under intense scrutiny, and even minor failures in a practice match can attract criticism from fans and media alike.
"As an Indian cricketer, we’re always under the microscope. I hate playing games that are televised and not Tests. If I want to try something new (e.g., carrom ball), it might go wrong. Where do I try? If practice matches are televised, then I have to fail in front of everyone. There’s judgment. So, we don’t want it. Maybe Virat Kohli wants to bat left-handed, try something new, bat another way, if he gets out, there’s criticism," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel Ash ki Baat.
"Practice games are there to try out what the players want to, at their own pace, for experimentation. It is about trying something and testing the waters," the cricketer-turned-YouTuber added.
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During India’s recent Test tour to England, the team played an intra-squad match between India and India A at the Kent County Cricket Ground, Beckenham. The BCCI had denied access to media personnel and broadcasters, and there was no live-streaming of the game. Officials had clarified beforehand that it would be a closed-door match, with no media or broadcast coverage permitted.
Similarly, prior to the opening Test in Perth in 2024, India held a behind-the-doors practice match. Ashwin’s recent comments about disliking televised practice matches help explain why such intra-squad games are often kept off-air, allowing players to experiment freely without the pressure of public scrutiny.
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