R Ashwin on Ravi Shastri's 'Kuldeep no.1 spinner' statement: I felt crushed

Indiarsquos premier offspinner R Ashwin has revealed that he felt like he was being ldquothrown under the busrdquo after a remark by former head coach Ravi Shastri left him ldquocrushedrdquo during a torrid phase in his career when he contemplated retirement multiple timesIn an interview with ESPNCricinfo Ashwin was asked how he felt when then coach Shastri anointed Kuldeep Yadav as Indiarsquos No 1 spinner overseas after he had taken a fivefor in the 2019 Sydney Test against AustralialsquoHappy for KuldeeprsquoAshwin said he was genuinely happy for Kuldeep as he knew how difficult it is to take five wickets as a spinner in Australia but Shastrirsquos remarks left him ldquoabsolutely crushedrdquoldquoI hold Ravi bhai in high esteem We all do And I understand we all can say things and then retract them At that moment though I felt crushed Absolutely crushedrdquo Ashwin saidldquoWe all talk about how important it is to enjoy your teammatesrsquo success And I was happy for Kuldeep I have not been able to get a fivefor but he has a fivefor in Australia I know how big it isldquoBut if I have to come and partake in his happiness and the success of the team I must feel like I belong there If I feel like I am being thrown under the bus how am I supposed to get up and come to a party to enjoy the teamrsquos or teammatersquos successrdquoAshwin however still made it to the celebration party that was organised following the Indianrsquos teamrsquos historic series triumph Down UnderAshwin 35 said that recurring injuries meant that he was playing under ldquoexcruciating painrdquo when he took three wickets in each innings to lead India to victory in the first TestShastrirsquos remark was quite too much for Ashwin after he played a role in the teamrsquos win in the series opener ldquoThe first Test seemed like a distant memory by then I had taken three of the first four wickets in the first innings after we were bowled out cheaply and then when it got really flat in the final innings I plugged away for 50plus overs and took three wickets despite what turned out to be a grade three abdomen tearldquoIn my mind I had done something great for the team in excruciating pain but all I heard was lsquoNathan Lyon took six Ashwin took threersquoFrustratedldquoAs it is I was frustrated with my body for letting me down when I was in really good bowling form The last thing I needed was these comparisons and insinuations Between that reaction and Sydney it didnrsquot feel like I had played any part at allrdquo Ashwin saidThere was a phase between 2018 to 2020 when he almost quit playing ldquoBetween 2018 and 2020 I contemplated giving up the sport at various points I thought lsquoI have put in a lot of effort but it is not coming throughrsquo The harder I tried the farther it felt Especially with athletic pubalgia and the patellar tendonitismdashI used to bowl six balls and then I used to be gasping for breath And there would be pain all over the placersquordquo Ashwin recalledThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever