A one-sided social media attack by former Indian cricketer Laxman Sivaramakrishnan on star off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has rocked the cricketing world. This has cast a shadow over the latter’s landmark 100th Test match.
Unreturned calls by Ravichandran Ashwin
Sivaramakrishnan took to social media, claiming he attempted to congratulate Ashwin on his achievement but received no response. “Tried calling him a few times… just cut off my call,” he wrote, adding, “That’s the respect we former cricketers get.” He further stated that respect comes from “cultured people,” suggesting Ashwin lacked such qualities.
Defense and Past Criticism
Sivaramakrishnan defended his actions, claiming his previous comments regarding Ashwin’s bowling action were meant to be constructive criticism, not personal attacks. He also questioned the judgment of online critics who hadn’t played international cricket themselves.
This is not the first time Sivaramakrishnan has been critical of Ashwin. He has previously questioned Ashwin’s bowling effectiveness in overseas matches and his loyalty due to a change in sponsorship during his playing career.
Ravichandran Ashwin Yet to Respond
As of now, Ashwin has not responded to Sivaramakrishnan’s public comments. The timing of the controversy, right before a significant milestone in Ashwin’s career, has drawn criticism and disappointment from fans and cricket enthusiasts.
Unanswered questions ahead of IND vs ENG 5th Test
The public spat raises questions about the relationship between former and current Indian cricketers. Whether this incident will escalate or be resolved privately remains to be seen. With the highly anticipated 100th Test approaching, fans can only hope that the focus remains on Ashwin’s cricketing achievements and the upcoming match.
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