'I sometimes feel sorry for them' - R Ashwin hits back at critics after impressive T20I return against Afghanistan

India’s ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin played his first game of the T20 World Cup 2021 against Afghanistan. Previously, there were a lot of talks around his selection in the squad for the mega event. However, the off-spinner shushed the noise around him after he exuded his sheer flair in the previous game.

Ashwin picked up two wickets and bowled an extremely economical spell against the Mohammad Nabi-led side. He sent back Gulbadin Naib and Najibullah Zadran and conceded just 14 runs from his four overs. Owing to this, India managed to dominate the proceedings against the opposition.

Post the match, the off-spinner has slammed the critics for having doubted his selection. He stated that he feels sorry for them and pointed that he is playing the format for a long.

“For a lot of people who are giving expert opinions on the game, I sometimes feel sorry for them. I have been playing this format since 2007-08, and every two years, the game leaves our realms and it teaches us something because the game is so fast-paced.

“I feel the understanding of the game is still backward in so many ways. For me when you say a bowler has to pick wickets, for fast bowlers there are different plans and for spinners, there are different plans,” said Ashwin during a virtual pre-match press conference

I think I expect too much from the people who watch the game: Ravichandran Ashwin

India will take on Scotland for their next game of the marquee event. The Virat Kohli-led side will look to secure a victory in this match to keep their hopes of qualifying alive. Ahead of the match, Ashwin stated that scalping a wicket is a herculean task. According to him, one is able to pick up wickets when the previous bowler has bowled an exceptional over to build pressure on the opposition.

“There are different lengths that you cannot afford to bowl as you do in a Test match. Wicket-taking is not something that just happens. Experts say that the game is about partnerships. Every time a bowler is picking wickets, there is an over that was bowled well before. I think I expect too much from the people who watch the game. This is how I play the game and in the process, if I keep taking wickets, I do that,” Ashwin added.