A medical situation in the Ashwin family has forced Ravichandran Ashwin to withdraw from the Indian squad for the Rajkot Test match immediately.
Sports News Updates : Due to a family issue, Ravichandran Ashwin chose to withdraw from the India squad for the ongoing Third Test against England in Rajkot. Ashwin will not be playing any longer in the match. The BCCI, which announced Ashwin’s decision in a late-night release on Friday, verified the news.
“Due to a family medical issue, Ravichandran Ashwin has withdrawn from the Test team, effective immediately. The squad and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) fully support Ashwin during these trying times, the BCCI stated in a media release.
“The BCCI offers the winning cricket player and his family its sincere support. The players’ and their loved ones’ health and well-being are the most important things. The Board asks that Ashwin and his family be allowed to remain private while they work through this difficult period.
Sadly, Ashwin’s loss occurs on the same day that he claimed his 500th wicket in a Test match. The off-spinner was expected to be heavily involved on Day 3 as India attempted to wrest some momentum back from the hosts. On Day 2, he became the second-fastest person to reach the milestone ever by removing opener Zak Crawley during England’s first innings. However, his unexpected last-minute absence leaves the bowling attack weak as India are expected to 10 players on the field per ICC regulations.
Although the specifics are still unknown, Ashwin’s withdrawal further compounds the Indian team’s problems, as they are already without KL Rahul (illness) and Virat Kohli (personal reasons). Based on the tone of the board’s release, even if no additional information has been released, it seems like a major issue. The choice of words suggests that this is a serious matter.
“The Board and the team will not stop offering Ashwin any support when he needs it, and we’ll maintain open lines of communication to do so.” The BCCI added, “Team India appreciates the compassion and understanding shown by the public and media during this delicate time.
During the Rajkot Tests’ second day, Ashwin was busy. He made headlines first for his batting exploits, as he amassed a vital 37 off 89 deliveries to help India’s middle order reach 445. Ashwin got brought up by the umpire when he inadvertently raced into the center of the pitch during his innings. Umpire Joel Wilson penalized India five runs for running on the wicket on Day 2 after Ashwin on Day 1 and Ravindra Jadeja on Day 1 were found guilty of doing so. But Ashwin, never one to back down from a conversation, did not carry on batting without ‘talking’ through the issue with Wilson several times.
Ashwin on his father’s health
Speaking following stumps on Day 2, Ashwin had earlier in the day remarked on how his father had supported him all along. Ashwin even disclosed that his father was anxious about everything throughout his time as an Indian player.
“The travel has been pretty lengthy. To begin with, I want to thank my father for this accomplishment. He’s stuck by me through good times and bad, and he’s probably had heart attacks every time he’s seen me perform. That’s presumably why his health has completely collapsed,” he had stated.
Ashwin hit a bottomless pit
During an interview with former India captain Kumble on Jio Cinema, the official channel of the India vs. England series, Ashwin revealed that he was going to go through the lowest point in his professional life. Recalling some of the most difficult moments in his career, Ashwin disclosed that he had fallen into a “bottomless pit.” Due to an abdominal strain, Ashwin did not perform up to par against England in 2018, and Team India lost the Southampton Test on a spin-friendly deck.
“My life has been full of ups and downs, and the time between 2018 and 2019 was the lowest moment for me. After winning the ICC Cricketer of the Year award and feeling like the world’s best player, Ashwin told Kumble, “It was a very dark time in my life to actually go to a really, really bottomless pit.”