‘English players think it was on purpose’ – Ravichandran Ashwin fires back at former England captain’s allegation of purposely running in protected area

India’s star cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin hits back at former England cricketer Alastair Cook. Notably, the former English skipper makes some bold claims about India’s great spinner after they were handed five penalty runs on Day 2 of the third Test match taking place at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot.

However, the former English star affirms that the 37-year-old cricketer deliberately walked on the protected areas during the game, which caused them the penalty. The 2019 ODI World Cup-winning skipper affirms that it was Ravichandran Ashwin’s tactical skills that disturbed the wicket, which can help him during his bowling.

“Is it deliberate? Yes, it is. It’s a tactical ploy that you can disturb the middle of the wicket because Ashwin wants as much help [as possible] when he can bowl. Normally, it happens in the third innings. You’re 150-200 runs ahead and you think, ‘Just make sure you get up and down the wicket’… that was gamesmanship there, wasn’t it?,” Alastair Cook said.

If I was any better, I would have been in the Olympics. Why play cricket: Ravichandran Ashwin

Meanwhile, India’s middle-order batter accepted that umpires had already warned some of his batters, but he could not understand much, which made him run in the protected areas. The 37-year-old cricketer says that it wasn’t meant to be, no matter what English players were saying to him about the same situation. Moreover, the legendary spinner slams Alastair Cook’s remark by citing the difference between the Olympics and cricket.

“They clearly warned some of our batters (on Thursday) for running on the pitch. I was aware of it, but my poor motor skills didn’t allow me to get off the pitch in time. If the English media and players think it was on purpose, it wasn’t. If that’s how they want to treat it, so be it. I went to (on-field umpires) Joel (Wilson) and Kumar (Dharmasena) and said ‘That’s pure poor motor skills. If I was any better, I would have been in the Olympics. Why play cricket,” Ravichandran Ashwin said.