R Ashwin recently played his 100 Test match, which came in the England series. He also went past the 500 wickets mark in the format, becoming only the second Indian to achieve the feat after Anil Kumble.
One of the most astute and shrewd cricket players to have represented India, Ravichandran Ashwin feels that his reputation as an "overthinker" has always worked against him, to the point that it has prevented him from taking on leadership roles in teams.
However, despite all of his achievements with the ball and his ability to outthink opponents, Ashwin has not led teams too often in his career.
On being asked at a recent Idea Exchange with The Indian Express if the ‘overthinker’ label has worked against him, Ashwin said: “Everybody has unique methods. A method that’s worked for me, will not work for (Ravindra) Jadeja. The cricket community likes to keep it really simple. Unless it’s completely broken, they wouldn’t try to mend it.
But I come from a school where even before it’s broken, I want to make sure I stitch it up and don’t get to a point where it’s broken. Why is it happening? That’s the question that people fail to recognize. I am addressing something before they believe I should address it. Because their journey is different and mine is different. They might get five opportunities but I will get only two. And I made peace with the fact that I will only get two.”
“It’s not like I change my actions and tomorrow if I am leading a side, I would go to Jadeja and tell him that he should change his action. I’m not that dumb. In a way, people just assumed that that’s how it could be. They just thought he would not fit the bill as a leader and that’s quite an unfair assessment,” Ashwin added.
