England vs India 2018: Ravichandran Ashwin Defends Hardik Pandya and Ravi Shastri

India’s off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin defended Hardik Pandya and Ravi Shastri. Hardik Pandya had to take the criticism after his mundane performance except for the Trent Bridge Test. On the other hand, India’s head coach Ravi Shastri also had to face the wrath when he said the current Indian side has had the best run in the last 15-20 years.

Meanwhile, India could not apply the finishing touches against England as they lost the Test series by 4-1. In fact, Hardik Pandya was shown the exit doors from the playing XI of the fifth and final Test match. However, Ravichandran Ashwin had to sit out due to his hip injury.

Ravichandran Ashwin puts his weight behind Hardik Pandya.

“Hardik Pandya is anything but cocky and rude. He is an extremely gentle character. The way he comes out on social media is a reflection of his personality. If you have a one-on-one conversation with him you will feel he is actually a small kid,” Ravichandran Ashwin said while talking at India Today at Salaam Cricket.

Ashwin defends Ravi Shastri.

Meanwhile, Ravi Shastri had to also face the wrath for putting this current team on the top of the table. Indian captain Virat Kohli had also hit out at a journalist. Ashwin said Shastri was not trying to compare the team with past teams.

“The word perception is where all these things hang around. The perception inside the dressing room is brought out by the representative at the press conference on that particular day. But the audience receives it in a different tone. It’s not necessary that whoever speaks from this side of the fence is trying to take a dig at the teams from the past,” Ashwin went on to add.

It is understandable that a team faces criticism whenever it goes to lose a series as the same way it is hailed when it wins a series.