Ashwin reasoned why team India is inferior in dominating world cricket than Australia.
Ex-India spinner R Ashwin has highlighted the unfair selection policies in the Indian team and also revealed why India is a less dominant force in world cricket compared to Australia. He differentiated the ideological differences between the two cricketing powerhouses.
Ashwin, who retired from international cricket in the middle of BGT 2024-25, reckoned India is miles behind Australia because bowlers are not backed by selectors or team management just as much as batters.
He gave the example of pacer Akash Deep and said that he is unlikely to play another Test match after returning from Down Under with fewer wickets, but insisted that the same will not happen to a batter.
"It is an unfair world. The batters get cocooned, but the bowlers don't. You will find Akash Deep not playing another Test because he didn't get enough wickets in Australia. But you will never find another batter who hasn’t made enough runs not playing another game for India. That’s exactly why Australia is a dominant force in world cricket and Indians aren't,” said Ashwin at AWS AI Conclave 2025 in Bengaluru by Hindustan Times.
Akash Deep picked five wickets in the two Tests he played in BGT 2024-25 before a back injury ended his tour before the Sydney Test.
The former India bowler went on to say that because Australia understands that their genuine strength rests in their bowlers, they are able to perform better in Test matches and competitions.
"Even though we have everything, I still think Australia are a dominant force because they know where their roots are and they know bowlers are their main guys who will win Test matches and tournaments. The day we get there, bowlers will start consuming data way better than they do,” he added.
India lost the BGT 2024-25 to Australia by a margin of 1-3 and surrendered the trophy after a decade.
On the other hand, R Ashwin, who played in the second Test in Perth, ended his illustrious India career with 537 wickets in 106 Test matches. He also took 156 ODI wickets in 116 matches and 72 wickets in 65 T20I appearances. Ashwin also won the ICC World Cup 2011 and ICC Champions Trophy 2013 as part of the Indian team.