IND vs IRE: It's Very Easy To Criticize The Team - Ravichandran Ashwin Defends India After Series Loss Against West Indies

Ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has leaped in Team India’s defense as the Men in Blue face severe criticism from several quarters after losing the recently-concluded T20I series against West Indies.

Hardik Pandya & Co. have been slammed by the fans as well as former cricketers for their poor performance during the T20Is. West Indies won the first two T20Is after India’s batting flopped in both outings. The Hardik Pandya-led side then won the third and fourth games to draw level in the series before West Indies thrashed them by eight wickets in the series decider.

The Caribbean outfit thoroughly dominated the contest to inflict a heavy defeat on India. Romario Shepherd’s 4-wicket haul helped West Indies restrict India to 165 for 9 on a good batting track. In reply, West Indies chased it down in just 18 overs by losing just two wickets.

Ravichandran Ashwin defends Team India:

Team India’s poor performance in the T20I series as well as the preceding ODI series has made the fans fear the worst ahead of the upcoming Asia Cup and the World Cup. Soon after the series loss, the fans were quick to point out that India lost to a team that did not even qualify for the World Cup. And as the Indian players face heavy criticism, Ravichandran Ashwin has come out in their defense.

“There are plenty of positive from this T20I series. It is very easy to criticise the team on social media since they lost to a team that didn’t qualify for the last T20 World Cup. They haven’t qualified for the upcoming 50-over World Cup as well. I want to give a piece of information to you guys,” Ravichandran Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

“I am not talking, backing, or supporting anybody. All of these are secondary. As a youngster, if you are going to the West Indies, there will be some challenges. In all countries, there will be some innate secrets. The local players know these things more than visiting players.

“Especially if the players are young. When I went to West Indies, England, Australia, I had to learn various little things…these are first-time experience for me as a cricketer. So, youngsters would have learned a lot from this tour. They will definitely get better form here.

“Losing the the series 3-2 to West Indies…many of them are criticising and upset. It’s okay and understandable. It’s only fair, I guess. But we can see this loss from two perspectives. The players will get experience from this series,” Ravichandran Ashwin added.

Team India’s next assignment is a three-match T20I series against Ireland later this month. The series is scheduled to begin on August 18. After the Ireland series, the Men in Blue will take part in the Asia Cup.