Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja are key assets for Team India in Test cricket, especially when the spin duo team up in home conditions. In a surprising admission, Ashwin revealed that he has long been envious of Jadeja.
However, the senior off-spinner lauded Jadeja's skill in consistently placing his deliveries in the same spot and performing well on the cricket field without making things overly complicated.
R Ashwin was quoted as saying by Sportstar: “One person that I am always envious of, I am not a jealous person, but I'm very envious of this one person, not anybody else. The greatest cricketer at this point of time, the most sellable cricket of the most attractive cricketer today is Virat Kohli. However, the most envious I am of one cricketer is Ravindra Jadeja.”
Ashwin further said that his and Jadeja’s cricket journeys are different but emphasized that there's no Ravindra without him, and vice versa. He also stressed that their success highlights how two players can adopt contrasting approaches in international cricket while complementing each other.
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The off-spinner explained, “Ravindra Jadeja's journey and my journey are extremely contrasting. Ravindra Jadeja can put a ball on the same spot day in and day out be extremely athletic on the field and keep it extremely simple with the bat and be a million dollars on most days. I cannot do that.”
Ashwin added: “For some reason, I couldn't express this to him for a long time. But I found a way to express this to him. I think there is a constant tussle, even between us, about who's even better than the other. But the fact is we don't exist without one another.”
Ashwin had earlier spoken about how he overthinks everything on the cricket field. Ashwin had said that it was one of his main strengths and not one of his weaknesses.
"Without Jadeja there is no Ashwin, without Ashwin, there is no Jadeja but it doesn't take away from the fact that he is extremely good at keeping it very simple and not overthinking it. I cannot put the ball in the same spot or bat like how I do if I don't be curious and if I don't overthink. He cannot be who he is if he is constantly overthinking it. So this is a classic case of people plying similar trades and finding success in their own ways," Ashwin concluded.
Notably, Ashwin and Jadeja will be next seen in action in India’s upcoming tour of South Africa.
(With Sportstar Inputs)
