Former India spinner Laxman Sivaramakrishnan has blasted off-spinner R Ashwin for his alleged disrespectful gesture. Ashwin is set to play his 100th Test match for India, which comes against England in Dharamshala on March 7, 2024.
Sivaramakrishnan accused Ashwin of ignoring his calls and messages as he tried to wish the off-spinner for his achievement. Sivaramakrishnan, in a post on X, wrote that Ashwin disconnected his calls and ignored his text messages, as he tried conveying his wishes to the off-spinner on the momentous occasion.
"Tried calling him a few times to wish him for his 100th Test. Just cut off my call. Sent him a message, no reply. That's the respect we former cricketers get," Sivaramakrishnan replied to one of the posts praising R Ashwin.
This led to the ex-leg-spinner being trolled on social media for his statement, bringing up the time Sivaramakrishnan had launched a scathing attack on Ashwin last October saying that “any fool will get wickets on tempered pitches in India" and threw controversial terms at Ashwin, such as calling him a 'liability fielder' and 'most unfit cricketer'.
Shortly after this incident, Sivaramakrishnan revealed that he received a phone-call from Ashwin to discuss his bowling action.
Ashwin will become the 14th Indian cricketer and only the third spinner behind Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh to play 100 Tests for India. Meanwhile, on the England team, Jonny Bairstow will also play his 100th Test match.
Then in the second Test between New Zealand and Australia, Kane Williamson and Tim Southee will play their 100th Test match as well.
