After Indin skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s ‘sit-down’ session with an Australian journalist at a post-match press conference during the World T20 at Wankhede here, it was the turn of his team-mate R.
After Indin skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s ‘sit-down’ session with an Australian journalist at a post-match press conference during the World T20 at Wankhede here, it was the turn of his team-mate R. Ashwin to take a dig at a journalist.
Ashwin showed displeasure when a scribe asked him how he would counter the dew factor here as he and with Ravindra Jadeja struggled to bowl with the wet ball against the West Indies in the World T20 semis.
“When there was dew, I did not bowl. It’s better you ask someone who actually bowled, to be very honest. I don’t know how it felt with the dew on.
“It’s very amusing because with the first 12 balls I bowled, I created a wicket opportunity as well,” Ashwin said ahead of his new franchise Rising Pune Supergiants’ opening IPL game against title-holders Mumbai Indians on Saturday.
When reminded by the journalist that skipper Dhoni had blamed dew for below par bowling performance against the West Indies, Ashwin retorted, “I don’t know what the captain said.”
Supergiants team manager Russell Radhakrishnan intervened and requested the media to keep questions restricted to the IPL.
At the end of the conference, Ashwin confronted the journalist to find out the publication he represented.
“I am not blaming you. But you should be responsible about what you write as millions of people read it and form an opinion,” said the player.
The Indian off-spinner also said that he should not be made a “villain” for bowling one of the two no-balls.
“The day I went back home my dog had heat stroke. He had fits. It just showed me what is more important and what is very, very important in life. I did not turn up a piece of paper for next three days. I haven’t read about what people had said.
“There have been good enough journalists and knowledgeable people who said I had not bowled a no-ball for ages and to have bowled one no ball, I don’t become a villain. If that’s the perception, I don’t know how to counter that,” he said.
The Supergiants off-spinner revealed he had been waiting for the new challenge to play for a new franchise.
“It’s a fresh start, it’s a new team for me and it’s going to be a new challenge which I had always been looking forward to. It’s very important to get into the new environment, see how much you can get better and add value to the team. It’s very exciting and I am looking forward to it.”
