IND vs NZ: "You Can't Ask These Questions As A Reaction To Losing Game"- Ravichandran Ashwin After Rahul Dravid Was Asked To Comment On 'Overseas League' Debate

Following India’s T20 World Cup loss earlier this month, there was an expanding discussion about whether Indian players should participate in international competitions.

Rahul Dravid, India’s head coach, clarified that the procedure might affect the local circuit in his country when he was questioned about it shortly after India’s World Cup semifinal defeat to England. Meanwhile, Wasim Akram, Anil Kumble, Stephen Fleming, and Tom Moody were among the few well-known figures in cricket who believed India should prioritize it.

Rahul Dravid’s position drew criticism, although senior cricketer R Ashwin, who was a member of the World Cup team, applauded the coach’s response and attacked the discussion surrounding it. 

Ravichandran Ashwin Hails Rahul Dravid’s Reply On A Debatable Topic

Although the need for Indian players in foreign leagues has long been debated, the topic has come up again after England’s Big Bash League-experienced players defeated India by 10 wickets in the semifinal. In that England team, 10 of the 11 players have participated in at least one BBL season. 

When Dravid was asked the same question, he said that it was challenging for Indian players to play in those competitions because their domestic season began around the same time as these foreign leagues. India wouldn’t want to follow “the West Indies method,” he continued.

On his YouTube channel, Ashwin criticized the timing of the question and initially praised Dravid’s response before admitting that it was “an interesting and debatable topic.” 

“They asked Rahul bhai in the press conference as soon as our game was over. You can’t ask these questions as a reaction to losing game. It’s a very unfair question to the coach of a cricket team. So what do you expect him to reply to that question? In fact, he gave a very good reply to that question.

He asked, “If you want Indian player to go and players these leagues what will happen to our first-class system?” We should understand that the Indian first-class system will behind from August end or by September end. It will be March when the Ranji trophy final gets over and we will have the IPL as soon as Ranji Trophy gets over. 

“So if we don’t play our first-class cricket, our sample size of players will come down. He felt it that way and replied beautifully. It is an interesting and debatable topic. In fact, many players from other countries have come to India and returned as better players,” he said. 

Also Read: “Teams Want To Copy Us” – Moeen Ali On Much-Discussed England’s Template