Former India batter Subramaniam Badrinath said that R Ashwin was not treated properly by the team management, which forced him to retire from international cricket. Ashwin’s decision left Badrinath in shock, adding that the off-spinner deserved a better exit.
Ashwin surprised many when he announced his retirement from international cricket just after the third Test against Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane. He came to the press conference with Rohit Sharma and informed the media about the decision.
Rohit was aware of the plans from the day he landed in Perth midway through the first Test. However, he urged the spinner to play in the pink-ball Test, and he accepted the request. However, with no place for him in the playing XI in Brisbane, he decided to quit.
S Badrinath defended the call, considering what Ashwin went through over the years. “I am shocked. He was not treated properly. Rohit said that Ashwin wanted to leave after the Perth Test as Washington was preferred over him. That tells you Ashwin was unhappy,” Badrinath told Star Sports Tamil.
‘It is a big thing for a cricketer from Tamil Nadu. Players from other states get more chances. Despite all the challenges, Ashwin took more than 500 Test wickets.
“He had to go through a lot. There was a deliberate effort to sideline him. But he bounced back when there was some conspiracy against him,” he added.
Badrinath argued that Ashwin should have been given a proper farewell and that players from other states might not have faced the same humiliation.
“He can leave the sport but not the way he did. It should have been a glorious exit. He was not treated properly because he is from Tamil Nadu. I feel bad for him.”
Earlier, Ashwin’s father said that due to continues humiliation. Ashwin decided to hang up his boots. However, the player hasn’t revealrd anything as of yet.