IND vs AUS: Trolls Could Have Put Arshdeep Singh In Emotional Turmoil, Says Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin, an Indian spinner, believes that young left-arm fast bowler Arshdeep Singh may be experiencing “mental instability” as a result of the persistent trolling he received after dropping a catch in a recent Asia Cup “Super 4” match against Pakistan in Dubai.

After Arshdeep Singh lost the catch with Pakistan needing 34 runs to win in two overs, fans vented their frustration on social media. Asif Ali attempted to sweep Ravi Bishnoi in the match’s 18th over, but was unable to do so because the skier edged the ball in the direction of Arshdeep, the short third-man.

However, the 23-year-old medium pacer missed the easy opportunity, and Ali lived to win the match for Pakistan. Later, Virat Kohli defended the young bowler, adding that anybody could have made such a mistake during a high-voltage game. 

Ravichandran Ashwin Hails Arshdeep Singh

The young player had the guts to throw a fantastic last over of the innings despite the setback of the lost catch, according to Ashwin, who is one of India’s 15-man team for the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia later this month.

“Arshdeep gave a terrific closeout against Pakistan. He bowled extraordinarily well in the last over against Pakistan in that tight finish. Despite dropping that catch, how well he came back and bowled the last over in that game. What composure! Both against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. So a big kudos to that boy,” said Ashwin.

“I have followed him from the U-17 and U-19 days and I have played with him for Kings XI Punjab (Punjab Kings). He is an outstanding person. He is a cricketer who has a superb work ethic. I am sure this kid will go places. I don’t have any doubts about that.” 

“So we will get to the outrage that we saw on social media about his dropped catch against Pakistan. Yes, anybody in the public eye will get criticism, agreed. It is a part and parcel of our life. We will accept it and move forward. But getting personal is not the greatest of feelings.

He (Arshdeep) is representing all of us when he is on the field, right? “Sometimes we have to put ourselves in that situation as a commoner, be it someone working in an IT industry or someone working in a factory. We are tweeting out of emotion as soon as he drops a catch, scolding him.

Let’s admit it’s an expression of our emotions. “If we are in Arshdeep’s shoes and drop that catch, what will we expect? We will expect nothing but a bit of empathy, right?.

‘It’s Ok. Well done, it was a great effort. Take the next catch… That’s what we all expect, right? If it was a kid, an elderly person from our house, our partner, or our brother or sister, we will expect that only,” added Ashwin. 

Social Media Users Should Behave Responsibly: Ravichandran Ashwin

It was a significant match, Ashwin continued, but social media users should behave responsibly. “I know it was against Pakistan and that it came at a crucial stage. But why have a go at someone relentlessly and put them in an emotional turmoil? Yes, it’s an era of modern-day social media, I get it.

But still it is our responsibility to act sensibly in these situations. Just like we have the right to express our thoughts, we should also coin those thoughts carefully in such a way that we should be ready to face the consequences after we express those thoughts.” 

He continued by saying that if Arshdeep Singh had read such remarks, it may have permanently damaged the cricketer’s mind. “Abusing someone is completely wrong, guys. Imagine Arshdeep reading those trolls. Imagine the toll it will have on the youngster. Imagine the effect it will have on him and his family,” added Ashwin. 

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