Ravichandran Ashwin reveals impact of Sanjay Manjrekar’s early career criticism
Ravichandran Ashwin, a prominent former India spinner, has disclosed that critical remarks from Sanjay Manjrekar early in his career significantly affected him. These comments, however, ultimately became a crucial turning point in his journey as an international cricketer.
Ashwin admitted to feeling upset after Manjrekar questioned his fitness following his initial tour of Australia. Manjrekar had suggested that Ashwin’s fitness was impacting both his bowling and fielding abilities. These remarks, according to Ashwin, angered him at the time and led him to avoid communication with the former India batter for several years.
Initial Reaction to Criticism
Instead of allowing the criticism to deter him, Ashwin chose to use it as motivation to enhance his game. He recounted the experience during an appearance on JioHotstar’s ‘Cheeky Singles’, explaining how the incident reshaped his perspective. Ashwin stated that he had messaged Sanjay Manjrekar at one point, recalling an article Manjrekar had written after his first Australia tour.
Ashwin read the entire article while returning from the tour. He expressed that upon reading it, he became angry and felt deeply hurt. Despite his feelings, he decided to move past it, noting that he did not engage in much conversation with Manjrekar for a period. For the subsequent four years, Ashwin dedicated himself to rigorous work, acknowledging that he was not naturally a gifted athlete.
The former off-spinner’s first Test tour of Australia occurred during the 2011-12 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. During this series, he secured nine wickets at an average of 62.77 and an economy rate of 3.36 across five innings in three matches. He was the third-highest wicket-taker for India in that series, yet his performance did not silence critics who doubted his effectiveness in overseas conditions.
Transformation and Reconciliation
Ashwin explained that Manjrekar’s initial criticism prompted him to work tirelessly on his fitness and overall game. This dedication eventually helped him become one of the leading spinners globally. His relationship with Manjrekar also saw an improvement after Manjrekar acknowledged the positive changes in his performances in a later article published in 2015.
In 2015, Manjrekar authored another article, this time praising Ashwin’s bowling. Following this, Ashwin reached out to Manjrekar, obtaining his number and sending him a message. He conveyed that Manjrekar’s earlier article had profoundly changed his life. Ashwin emphasized his approach to feedback, stating that he always seeks to learn from criticism.
Manjrekar has been known for his outspoken opinions and remarks, which have sometimes led to disagreements with players and fans. A notable instance involved his comments about veteran Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, whom he referred to as a ‘bits-and-pieces cricketer’ during the 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. He also made remarks concerning Virat Kohli during a period of reduced form, later suggesting that Kohli was sensitive to criticism.
Ashwin retired from international cricket as one of India’s most decorated players. Across 287 international matches, he claimed a total of 765 wickets. This tally includes 537 wickets in Tests, 156 wickets in One Day Internationals (ODIs), and 72 wickets in Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is). He concluded his international career as India’s second-highest wicket-taker in international cricket, behind only Anil Kumble.
Recognized as one of India’s greatest all-rounders, Ashwin also made significant contributions with the bat, scoring six Test centuries. He played a crucial role in India’s success in the longest format of the game for over a decade. Although he has retired from international and IPL cricket, Ashwin continues to participate in franchise T20 leagues globally. He signed with the Big Bash League last season but missed the tournament due to an injury before returning to action in Major League Cricket.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
