R Ashwin and Gautam Gambhir (X) Ravichandran Ashwin has delivered a targeted message to Indian cricket fans, echoing Gautam Gambhir’s recent call for healthier conversations on social media. The veteran off spinner said on Monday that the growing trend of personal attacks was dragging the sport into a space it should never have occupied, especially after criticism intensified following India’s home Test defeat against South Africa last month. In a chat with RevSportz during an event, Ashwin was asked about the impatience that now dominates online discussions, where a player or coach is written off after a couple of bad outings, and then cheered after one good day. Gambhir experienced this firsthand after India slipped to a second successive home Test series under his tenure, a 0–2 defeat that sparked calls for his sacking and calls for a dedicated red-ball coach.
Gautam Gambhir Press Conference: Head Coach of Team India after 2-1 ODI series win over SA
Ashwin said that while questioning performances is normal, the conversation needs to revolve around the logic of selection and fielding, not attacking individuals. He emphasized that cricket debates should judge what makes players stronger and what doesn’t, rather than labeling players as good or bad. He used the example of Riyan Parag’s ODI debate to explain his point. “The discussion should not be about whether Parag is good or bad,” he said. “It should be about what supports his selection and what doesn’t. Instead, we often get into personality bashing. That’s the part that worries me. A fan of one player might not like another.” Ashwin also mentioned fast bowlers Prasidh Krishna and Harshit Rana, who both faced intense online backlash in recent months, to come back strong in the ODI series against South Africa. He asked why fandom takes shape like a movie script where supporting one player means hating another. He said mistakes and wrong predictions are part of the game, adding that no one is expected to be an astrologer. Instead, open, respectful discussions should be the norm. Ashwin concluded by urging everyone involved in the game – players, pundits and followers – to consider the impact of their words. “If what we say reaches ten people and affects five, we should try to make sure it helps more of them. That’s a responsibility we all share,” he said.
