- Missed the first Test before being picked in Adelaide
- Suddenly retired after a repeat Brisbane Test
- His father has had his say, much to his son’s shame
Parents can still be embarrassed even if you’re world famous and approaching 40 – just ask Indian cricket superstar Ravichandran Ashwin.
The gifted spinner shocked the cricket world after the drawn Test against Australia in Brisbane by appearing at the post-match media conference and announcing his retirement from the international squad with immediate effect.
His dismissal came amid swirling rumors that he was out of favor with coach Gautum Gambhir, with captain Rohit Sharma pushing for his inclusion at the expense of young spinner Washington Sundar.
Now, Ashwin’s father, also named Ravichandran, has joined the debate.
He has stated that his son may have retired due to the sheer humiliation of not being selected, leaving Ashwin junior to rush to set the record straight.
‘Actually, I found out at the last minute. I don’t know what was going on in his mind,” Ravichandran Ashwin Senior told CNN News18.
Ravichandran Ashwin (pictured holding the ball) ended his brilliant Test career for India in a sudden announcement after the Brisbane Test against Australia
The prolific spinner (pictured with his family) was at the center of rumors that he was dating coach Gautum Gambhir
Ashwin’s father (pictured right with star) believes his son may have quit because of the ‘humiliation’ of not being selected
“He just announced it. I also accepted it with great pleasure. I had no feelings about that at all. But the way he gave his retirement, part of me was very happy, part of me was not happy because he should have continued.
‘[Retiring] is his wish and desire, I cannot interfere with that, but the way he gave it, there could be many reasons for that. Only Ashwin knows, maybe humiliation.”
Ashwin junior then went online and confusingly blamed the media for cheating on his father, before trying to dismiss it as a careless slip of the tongue.
“My father is not media trained,” he posted.
‘Dey father enna da ithelaam?’ – which translates to ‘what’s going on?’ in Tamil.
“I never thought you would follow this rich tradition of ‘father declarations.’ Request all of you to forgive him and leave him alone.”
Meanwhile, India are not the only side to suffer selection drama, with Australia confirming rookie opener Nathan McSweeney has been dropped for the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
Sam Konstas is set for a glittering Test debut after being called up for the final two matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the expense of McSweeney.
Nathan McSweeney has been dumped by Cricket Australia officials after just three matches
Sam Konstas will become the fourth youngest Test debutant in Australian history on Boxing Day
Teenage prodigy Konstas was named in Australia’s 15-player squad for the remainder of the series against India on Friday, with paceman Jhye Richardson the other new face to replace the injured Josh Hazlewood.
At 19 years and 85 days, Konstas would become the fourth-youngest Test debutant in Australian history if selected for the Boxing Day Test, and the youngest since current captain Pat Cummins in 2011.
‘Sam gets his first call from the Test team. His style of batting offers a point of difference and we look forward to seeing his game develop further,” said chief selector George Bailey.
Konstas’ inclusion has pushed McSweeney out of the frame after both he and fellow opener Usman Khawaja committed errors in the first three Tests against India.
Neither has managed a score above 40 this series, but it’s the recent debutant who has to pay the price.