Ashwin reveals why he stopped talking to Sanjay Manjrekar after criticism
Ravichandran Ashwin, a former India spinner, has disclosed that early career criticism from Sanjay Manjrekar deeply affected him. These remarks, however, ultimately became a significant turning point in his journey as an international cricketer. Ashwin admitted that he was upset after Manjrekar questioned his fitness following his initial tour of Australia, suggesting it impacted both his bowling and fielding.
The comments angered Ashwin at the time, leading him to distance himself from the former India batter for several years. Instead of dwelling on the criticism, Ashwin chose to use it as motivation to transform his game. He later reconciled with Manjrekar after a subsequent positive article, acknowledging that the initial critique ultimately changed his life and motivated him.
Initial Critique and Reaction
Speaking on JioHotstar’s ‘Cheeky Singles’, the veteran off-spinner recounted how the episode altered his perspective. Ashwin recalled messaging Sanjay Manjrekar once, stating that after his first Australia tour, Manjrekar had written a lengthy article. Ashwin read the entire piece while returning, and upon reading it, he felt both angry and deeply hurt.
He explained that he let the feelings go but avoided speaking much to Manjrekar for the next four years. During this period, Ashwin dedicated himself to extensive work, recognising that he was not naturally a gifted athlete. This period of silence and intense effort was crucial for his development.
Sanjay Manjrekar has often generated controversy with his opinions and remarks, frequently putting him at odds with players and fans. A notable instance was his comment against veteran Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, whom he referred to as a ‘bits-and-pieces cricketer’ during the 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. Manjrekar also made remarks about Virat Kohli during a lean patch, questioning his form and later claiming that the batting great was ‘very sensitive to criticism’.
Much like Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin also experienced friction with Manjrekar’s analytical style. Ashwin noted how public commentary profoundly influenced how players perceived experts in the commentary box. His first Test tour of Australia occurred during the 2011-12 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he took nine wickets at an average of 62.77 and an economy rate of 3.36 across five innings in three matches. Despite being India’s third-highest wicket-taker in the series, his performance did not silence critics who questioned his ability in overseas conditions.
Transformation and Reconciliation
Ashwin explained that Manjrekar’s criticism prompted him to work relentlessly on his fitness and overall game, which eventually helped him become a leading spinner globally. He shared that in 2015, Manjrekar wrote another article acknowledging his improved bowling. This prompted Ashwin to seek Manjrekar’s number and message him, stating that the earlier article had changed his life. Ashwin emphasised his approach of always seeking to learn from criticism.
The relationship between Ravichandran Ashwin and Sanjay Manjrekar reportedly improved in 2015 after Manjrekar acknowledged the transformation in Ashwin’s performances through a subsequent article. This recognition led Ashwin to contact the former India batter, expressing gratitude for the earlier criticism and admitting its significant role in changing his mindset. This revelation provides insight into Ashwin’s approach to self-improvement, where he used criticism as motivation to enhance aspects of his game that were not naturally strong.
This commitment over the years helped Ashwin develop into one of India’s most successful match-winners. He concluded his international career as one of the country’s most successful bowlers, also evolving into a dependable lower-order batter and a much-improved fielder. Ashwin retired from international cricket as one of India’s most decorated cricketers, claiming 765 wickets across 287 international matches, including 537 in Tests, 156 in ODIs, and 72 in T20Is. He finished as India’s second-highest wicket-taker in international cricket, behind only Anil Kumble. He also contributed significantly with the bat, scoring six Test centuries.
Although he has retired from international and IPL cricket, Ravichandran Ashwin continues to participate in franchise T20 leagues worldwide. He signed for the Big Bash League last season but missed the tournament due to injury before returning to action in Major League Cricket.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
