Rumors have been swirling around recently, suggesting that former India off-spinner R Ashwin is quite worried about the future of ODI cricket. Especially after big names like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli eventually retire. But, you know, there’s actually no solid proof for that.
No trusted sources have really confirmed any of those claims, apparently. The only thing out there is a YouTube video titled “R Ashwin on ODI Cricket Future,” but it doesn’t have any quotes or transcript. So, we really can’t say for sure what he thinks about that topic specifically.
But what Ashwin *has* been talking about, well, that’s pretty interesting stuff. He’s been open about a lot of things. And he’s really given us some insights into Indian cricket.
Ashwin’s Candid Takes: Demeanor and Focus
So, R Ashwin, who just retired from international cricket, he’s been chatting a bit about how different he is from Virat Kohli. He said people often compare them. Folks think Ashwin is super serious. And Virat, he’s the fun-loving one. You know, with all his celebrations, blowing kisses to Anushka Sharma in the stands. She’s always there, cheering him on. And Virat, he pretty often acknowledges her, even video calls his kids.
Ashwin, though? He’s more dialled in, he says. “I wanted people to know me for who I am because, a lot of times, Ashwin’s picking up a wicket, and Virat Kohli is all over the place. He’s just jumping about,” Ashwin mentioned on a Sky Sports Podcast. People ask him why he’s so serious. But for him, it’s all about winning for India. Just completely focused on the game.
T20 World Cup Threats: Not Who You’d Think
When it comes to the T20 World Cup, Ashwin has some pretty surprising thoughts on who opponents should target. He doesn’t think it’s Jasprit Bumrah anymore, actually. “I would now say, from what I have seen, Tim David handled Varun Chakaravarthy. I am thinking teams will go for Abhishek Sharma and Varun Chakaravarthy if they have to get past India,” he shared on his YouTube channel. That’s a pretty bold claim, right?
He pointed out how Australia played against Abhishek Sharma in a recent T20I game. They bowled wide outside off stump. And they took pace off the ball. This really curbed Abhishek’s big bat swing. Abhishek is a really deadly batter, especially in the powerplay. But Australia had a plan. They limited his hitting areas. It was pretty smart bowling, Ashwin thought. Abhishek has 989 runs in this World Cup cycle. And Varun Chakaravarthy, he’s got 43 wickets in 22 games.
And speaking of Varun Chakaravarthy, he’s actually joined India’s ODI squad for the England series. Ashwin had said he felt Varun might get a chance. He thought it wouldn’t be easy to take him straight into the Champions Trophy. Varun was really good against England in the recent T20I series. He bagged 14 wickets, a five-for too. It’s an interesting call for sure.
India’s vice-captain, Shubman Gill, also talked about the competition. He said there’s no “toxic competition” between him, Abhishek Sharma, and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Abhishek is a childhood friend, Gill said. He just wants everyone to perform for the country. That’s a good outlook, I guess.
Champions Trophy Hopes and Pakistan Pressure
Ashwin also had some thoughts on the upcoming Champions Trophy in Dubai. India is playing Pakistan on February 23rd. He thinks the Indian team is much more relaxed when they play Pakistan these days. “The Pakistan team is under much more pressure and it is visible as one sees their players,” Ashwin said on Ash ki Baat, his YouTube channel. He says it’s a bit sad, but Pakistan does have quality. They can outperform India on their day.
He sees India as “champion material.” Ashwin has some reservations about five spinners in the squad, though. But he really believes India can win another ICC tournament. He even made some early predictions for the semi-finalists: India, New Zealand, New Zealand, and South Africa. He thinks India will be in the final if they win the toss twice in Dubai. That’s a pretty big call.
Shubman Gill also sees the ODI series against England as important prep for the Champions Trophy. They’re not taking it lightly. They want to dominate that series. It’s all about building momentum, seems like.
So, while the big questions about ODI cricket’s future remain unconfirmed from Ashwin, he’s certainly not shying away from sharing his strong opinions on India’s current game and its biggest challenges. The upcoming Champions Trophy will be a real test for these insights.
Priyanjan Paul 
Ishaan Singh