Ravichandran Ashwin and Nathan Lyon NEW DELHI: Leading Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon stunned the cricketing world when he openly admitted he felt “absolutely filthy” after being dropped for the second Ashes Test at the Gabba. The rare emotional outburst has gone viral and won admiration from fans for his honesty – and sparked a debate about why Indian cricketers don’t react similarly when they are dropped from the playing XI.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!This question recently landed squarely in front of Indian veteran Ravichandran Ashwin during a discussion on his YouTube show Ash Ki Baat. This time, instead of ducking, Ashwin offered a revealing insight into the unspoken rules that govern Indian cricket culture.
Team India arrives in Cuttack for T20Is | Fans will miss Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma
“Nathan Lyon is lucky,” Ashwin began, putting the issue beyond mere performance. “If someone was dropped from the team, the emotions would be similar to what Lyon expressed in front of the world. He got the media to express his views and he did exactly that. The Australian team wouldn’t feel bad and he would be playing the Adelaide Test. I’m just happy for Nathan Lyon.”However, Ashwin feels that the honesty that earned Lyon respect could cost the Indian cricketer dear.“People have emotions and they will do exactly that. But I can’t express my emotions because if I do, I will lose and only damage will be done to me. So why will I do that? But I really respect Nathan Lyon; he showed his emotions. Good,” added Ashwin.
Vote
Do you agree with Nathan Lyon’s emotional confession after being dropped from the team?
According to Ashwin, the issue is not about limitations but about consequences. Indian players can talk but must constantly weigh what he calls “collateral damage”.“We as Indian cricketers are allowed to express our opinion. No one is stopping us from doing that. But what is the collateral damage? Your expression and emotions are not given as much respect because you will be labeled as a person of a certain character. I hope that will change in time and it should.”Ashwin then offered a striking cultural comparison that illustrates how self-expression is celebrated abroad but judged at home.“Take the example of Chris Gayle… He himself said, ‘I am the boss of the universe’ and we accepted it. Now imagine tomorrow Abhishek Sharma comes to a press conference with a big chain and shouts to the world, ‘I am the boss of the universe’. Will we accept him? No. Because there is a condition in our mind that no matter how hard we need to give credit to someone else, it will change.”
