Ravichandran Ashwin Criticizes "Superstar" Culture in Indian Cricket and Queries Champions Trophy Squad

India's ace cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has recently come out with concerns over the rise of "superstar" culture in the Indian cricket team. Post his international cricket retirement from the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in December last year, Ashwin has become more and more outspoken regarding his opinions about the game, regularly sharing knowledge on his social media handles as well as on his YouTube show, 'Ash Ki Baat.'

During an open-ended interview, Ashwin went out of his way to state that cricketers should not be turned into celebrities and retained the belief that they should remain near the people. His statements have elicited massive argumentation from cricket enthusiasts and commentators alike, shedding light on an issue that has been entrenched in Indian cricket for a long time.

The Need to Normalize Cricket Culture in India

Ashwin is sure that Indian cricket needs to move away from the mentality of placing individual players on pedestals. He feels that cricketers are sportsmen, not movie stars, and that they need to focus on team objectives rather than personal achievement.

"One has to bring in the normalcy in Indian cricket. We cannot create this super celebrity culture and superstardom in the Indian cricket team. We are not actors or superstars, but cricketers. We are sportspersons and have to be those people that ordinary people can look up to and compare themselves against," Ashwin explained in his YouTube session.

The veteran cricketer's remarks highlight an important point—while of course, the best of players should be idolized by the fans, excessive hero worship could create unrealistic expectations and undue burdens on individuals that ultimately find expression in team performance.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli-Paradigms of the "Superstar" Model

Speaking of two of India's biggest cricketing greats, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, Ashwin explained how individual success must never be accorded more importance than collective success. He asserted that when players of such quality achieve another hundred or score a new milestone, it should not be viewed as something extraordinary but rather as an extension of their natural way of working.

"For example, if you are Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli, who have already achieved so much, then another century should be, I should say, business as usual. The focus needs to be on larger team goals and not individual milestones," Ashwin stated.

His perspective underlines the necessity for team ethos and shared objectives. While there has to be individual genius, cricket is a team sport in which collective achievement counts more than individual bests.

Fears About India's Squad for the Champions Trophy

Apart from his tirade against the "superstar" culture, Ashwin also spoke about his concerns regarding India's selection for the upcoming Champions Trophy. He questioned the selection of five spinners—Axar Patel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, and Varun Chakravarthy—into the 15-man team, especially considering the fact that the tournament is being held in Dubai.

"Five spinners in Dubai? I don't know. I think we have one too many, if not two. Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja are our two best all-rounders after Hardik Pandya. Both of them need to play, and so does Kuldeep. But if you include Varun Chakravarthy in there as well, then you will have to leave out a pacer and have faith in Hardik as your second fast bowler," Ashwin simplified.

His breakdown presents a valid point—India's bowling combination must strike a balance between spin and pace, especially on Dubai tracks that may not always favor spin-based options. Having more than one spinner would mean sacrificing a valuable fast-bowling option, which could prove costly under certain match conditions.

India's Preparation for the Champions Trophy

With the Indian team scheduled to play their opening match against Bangladesh at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in a few days, the team and support staff have already left for Dubai. The team is playing all their matches in Dubai after deciding against traveling to Pakistan, a decision they made on account of security concerns and deep-seated political tensions between the two nations.

With the tournament drawing near, Ashwin's observations have provoked so much controversy among cricket followers and experts themselves. While Indian cricket's "superstar" ethos is quite ingrained, his call for less glamour has struck a sensitive nerve among so many who believe the players have to be viewed first as sportsmen and celebrities in the second instance.

At the same time, his critical analysis of India's Champions Trophy team choice is a topic that poses serious questions about team choice and thinking. Whether the team management will take his comments into consideration remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—Ashwin's comments are still introducing a fresh and critical voice to Indian cricket.