Ravichandran Ashwin is known as one of the greatest spinners that India has ever produced. Batters across the globe often face the champion off-spinner in awe. However, former India explosive opener Virender Sehwag often treats Ashwin in disdain during Indian Premier League and other domestic tournaments.
During an interaction, Ashwin had once recalled that that Sehwag had a ‘demoralising’ effect on him. The off-spinner recalled about an incident when he was bowling to Sehwag and the later was smashing him all over the park.
“There was an incident in Dambulla, where every ball that I bowled, Sehwag smashed those. The first ball I bowled outside off stump, Sehwag cut me. Next ball I bowled on off stump, he cut me. Next ball I bowled on middle stump, he cut me. The next ball I bowl on leg stump, he again cut me. So I said ‘what the hell is happening’. So I just bowled a ball fuller, Sehwag stepped out and slugged me out for a six,” said Ashwin during the interaction.
“So I said to myself either I am just not good enough or this guy is just way too good … which he was. But to the greater Sachin Tendulkar also, I didn’t struggle with bowling so much in the nets too. I was very inquisitive. I observed this for a few days,” he added.
Subsequently, when Ashwin asked the former Indian batting great how it is that he can improve himself, he got a very typical Sehwag answer.
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“You know what, I don’t think off-spinners are bowlers. They do not trouble me at all. I just find it easy smashing them,” said Sehwag in a nonchalant manner which stunned Ashwin.