In a video posted over his YouTube account, Ravichandran Ashwin praised Australia for their outstanding performance against India during the World Cup Final. He said that the Kangaroos’ flawless tactics were the reason they won their sixth World Cup.
On his YouTube channel, Ashwin said he was shocked by Australia’s choice to field in the final. This is because he had expected them to bat first if they had won the toss.
At the conclusion of the first innings, Ashwin claimed to have run into George Bailey. He is the chairman of selectors for the Kangaroos. Ashwin was shocked by Bailey’s explanation for bowling first. It was something that he felt told volumes about the Australians’ unparalleled preparation.
Ravichandran Ashwin said, “Australia and Pat Cummins deceived me. I thought Australia would bat first if they win the toss because, historically, it’s an Aussie thing to ‘win the toss and bat’. The wicket used for the final was not Ahmedabad soil, it was rather from Odisha. It was the kind of wicket that would not disintegrate too much.”
The Team India spinner added, “I was looking at the pitch during the mid-innings and that’s when I bumped into George Bailey, Australia’s chairman of selectors. I questioned him curiously why Australia didn’t opt to bat, for which he replied that they opted to bowl first since this was a black soil wicket, which usually gets better to bat on in the evening.”
“It was a tactical masterclass” : Ravichandran Ashwin
Ashwin expressed his admiration for Pat Cummins’ bowling performance. He stated that he surprised him by essentially “bowling to an off-spinner’s field.”
The Rajasthan Royals spinner added, “What Pat Cummins did with the ball was also nothing short of extraordinary. To not have a mid-off, have a 4-5 field and bowl with such accuracy was remarkable. I’ve never seen a fast bowler bowl to an off-spinner’s field and execute so perfectly, not bowling a single overpitched delivery. It was a tactical masterclass. Australia had us there. They were deserved winners.”
Fans react as Ravichandran Ashwin reveals conversation with Australia’s chief selector during ODI WC Final:
Ashwin said "Australia totally deceived me personally, I had a chat with George Bailey during the mid innings, I asked him why didn't you guys bat first like you always do – he answered back, we have played IPL & Bilateral series here a lot – red soil disintegrates but not black… pic.twitter.com/kZtw54QZbk
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) November 23, 2023
Now that’s called research and analysis- take a bow Aussies, you guys are legends!
— Sumit Agarwal ?? (@sumitagarwal_IN) November 23, 2023
I think Ashwin Anna can only challenge Oat Cummins master class .
ASHWIN is very sharp and it's unfortunate he is not considered for the leadership role in the test as well…! pic.twitter.com/EWiIwjJmwF— Sujeet Suman (@sujeetsuman1991) November 23, 2023
Maybe Rohit Sharma should bat as a finisher in T20 only. Imagine Rohit Sharma down the order when its only Old ball which is not swinging anymore. Rohit is biggest nightmare in death overs for the Bowlers and maybe Ishan can Open the batting and continue attack in the starting.
— Abhay ?? (@InfinityAbhay) November 23, 2023
What rubbish he so talking about? Why would they decieve them ? #Sharma said he would have batted first had they won toss ?
— Zulfiqar Ali Langah (@Xulfiie) November 23, 2023
Their Research & Analysis always Ultimate… #MightyAustralians…
— Rajasekar Russalayan (@iamrajesh_pov) November 23, 2023
Aur yaha Harbhajan jaise chu TV par bol rahe the ki pahle 40 over hi pich achcha khelega..,,phir dheema hota jayga aur lamba turn hoga….matlab inhe itna basic gyan nahi hai
— Mahabali Thanos (@MahabaliThanos) November 23, 2023
KL rahul ka wicket gaya hi nahi tha.
Wo out hua hi nahi tha.— Mehwish (@MyWishIsUs) November 23, 2023
I think bcci needs to allow players to play foriegn leauge
There is nothing like home advantage anymore infront of world class team like Australia ?— Sindhi Chhokro (@Piyush_seerwani) November 23, 2023
Stop crying India, they deserve to win ?
— ???? (@misstherapist_) November 23, 2023
Foreigners understood Indian soil natures better than us! Mind blowing and really appreciable! ?
— Amrit (@Amrit_Uvach) November 23, 2023
Australians in cricket have always been the masters of tactics and strategies. The moment you take them lightly, the very next moment, they will ditch you like anything.
— Aditya (@AdityaDntCare) November 23, 2023