IND vs WI: I Could Have Played A Good Role In It: Ravichandran Ashwin Expresses Disappointment Over WTC Final Snub After Five-Wicket Haul Against West Indies

Just a month after being sensationally dropped from the playing eleven for the World Test Championship final against Australia, India spin spearhead Ravichandran Ashwin proved his worth with an impressive five-wicket haul on day one of the ongoing first Test against West Indies in Dominica.

The off-spinner finished with figures of 5 for 60 as India bowled out West Indies for a paltry 150. It is his 33rd five-wicket haul in Tests. After India’s pacers failed to provide the team with an early breakthrough, Rohit Sharma introduced Ravichandran Ashwin into the attack and he made an instant impact by castling Tagenarine Chanderpaul with a beauty.

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The veteran spinner kept taking wickets at regular intervals to completely derail West Indies innings. He dismissed West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite, Alick Athanaze, Alzarri Joseph, and Jomel Warrican to complete yet another five-wicket in Tests.

Ravichandran Ashwin opens up on WTC disappointment:

After starring with the ball against West Indies, Ravichandran Ashwin admitted that he was disappointed on being left out of the team for the WTC final last month. Despite being the number one Test bowler in the world and India’s highest wicket-taker in the second cycle of WTC, the ace spinner failed to find a spot in the team.

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While he said that missing out was unfortunate, he made sure to point out that he was more focused on bouncing back after the heartbreaking snub. Ashwin stated that he is not the kind of person who gets bogged down after a setback while he also rued the fact that he is yet to win the WTC final.

“As a cricketer when you have a shot at a WTC Final and to sit out is fine. For me, it was how do I respond and how do I make sure the dressing room is up and about,” Ashwin said after stumps.

“Winning the WTC Final is the most important thing and it could have been a very high point in my career and I could have played a good role in it, but it was just unfortunate that it didn’t pan out and the first day left us too far behind in the shed.

“But what is the difference between me and another person that is going to sulk (about being dropped). All I would like to give my teammates and India cricket as a whole is some understanding and my best efforts on the field and that is where I would like to leave it,” he added.

Meanwhile, India have made a strong start with the bat. After bowling out West Indies for a paltry total, India were on 80 for no loss at stumps.

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