Abhishek Nayar, the assistant coach of the Indian cricket team, recently shared a similar story that is extremely sensitive for cricket fans.
Nair explained the strategic reasons behind the omission of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in the first Test against Australia in Perth.
“Look, cricket is not just a game, it is a team spirit game,” Nair said in a media interaction.
“When you work in a team, you have to prioritise the team’s goal, rising above personal ambitions.”
“Experienced players like Jadeja and Ashwin understood this very well and showed their professionalism.
Whenever a big player is left out of the team, there is a possibility of tension building up in the dressing room. But something was different this time.
“Jaddu and Ashwin showed how dedicated they are to the team,” Nair said proudly.
He put the team’s victory above all else, leaving his personal ambitions behind. Captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir are also firm supporters of this team-first approach.
“Rohit and Gauti bhai always say that the team’s victory is most important,” Nair told PTI. He believes that when the senior players support the younger players, the strength of the team increases manifold.
Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin are regarded as the jewels of Indian cricket with 855 Test wickets. His place in the Perth Test was given to Washington Sundar, which was a very bold decision.
“No one is left out in cricket,” Nair clarified. “Every player gets a chance, be it a spinner or a fast bowler.”
He further explained that playing with the pink ball can be a bit more challenging than the red ball. Nevertheless, the team’s strategy always comes first. “We know that any top-class spinner can get a chance,” Nair said confidently.
