R Ashwin reveals why he stopped talking to Sanjay Manjrekar

Ravichandran Ashwin finished his international career with 765 wickets across all formats, establishing himself among India’s greatest bowlers. His tally included 537 Test wickets, 156 ODI wickets and 72 T20 International wickets, making him the second-highest international wicket-taker in Indian cricket history.

Ashwin opened up about a long-standing tension with cricket commentator Sanjay Manjrekar that stemmed from criticism levelled at him early in his career. The off-spinner revealed that Manjrekar had questioned his fitness following his first Australia tour, suggesting it affected both his bowling and fielding performance.

“I had messaged Sanjay Manjrekar once. After my first Australia tour, he had written a long article, and I read it completely while returning. After reading I got angry, getting angry is one thing, but I felt very bad. I let it go. I used to not talk a lot to him either.” Ashwin said on JioHotstar’s Cheeky Singles.

“The next four years, I worked a lot, as I was not a gifted athlete. Then in 2015, he wrote another article saying he was bowling very well. Then I asked for his number and messaged him that your article back then changed my life. I always look at whether there is something to learn from criticism,” he added.

The turning point in their relationship

The criticism deeply affected Ashwin at the time. Rather than dismiss the comments, he internalised them and used them as motivation to improve his fitness and overall performance. For several years following the initial article, Ashwin barely spoke to Manjrekar, maintaining minimal contact with the commentator.

Manjrekar’s perspective shifted in 2015 when he wrote another article acknowledging Ashwin’s transformation and praising his bowling performances. This piece marked a turning point in their relationship. Ashwin, recognising the significance of Manjrekar’s earlier words in driving his improvement, reached out to thank him for the original criticism that had inspired his work ethic over the preceding years.

After his international retirement, Ashwin continued his cricket involvement through other formats. He appeared in Major League Cricket, extending his playing involvement beyond the international stage. He was also signed for the Big Bash League in the previous season but missed the tournament due to injury.

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