‘We must not encourage this’ – Ravichandran Ashwin wishes to put an end to 'Superstar culture' in Indian cricket

Former Indian cricketer star Ravichandran Ashwin has urged an end to the superstar culture in Indian cricket. The 38-year-old has urged the cricketers to show behaviour that can resonate with common people. Ashwin, who retired from international cricket late last year, made these comments on his YouTube show “Ash ki Baat’. 

Ashwin said, “It is important to normalise things in Indian cricket. We must not encourage this superstardom and super celebrities within the Indian cricket team. We must normalise all these things going forward. We are cricketers. We are not actors or superstars. We are sportspersons, and we must be someone that the common people should resonate with and can compare themselves with." 

Many former cricketers have called on the BCCI to put an end to the superstar culture in Indian cricket. The calls became louder after India’s meek surrender to Australia to lose the Border Gavaskar Trophy after ten years. The Indian cricket board has rung in a few changes after the disastrous tour in a bid to get their house back in order. 

Ashwin questions thinking behind five spinners in team for Champions Trophy

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin also said, “For example, if you are a Rohit Sharma or a Virat Kohli who have achieved so much, when you hit one more century, it is not just about your achievement anymore. It should be business as usual, and our goals should be bigger than these achievements.”

While addressing India’s squad for Champions Trophy 2025, Ashwin was left amazed with five spinners in the team. Varun Chakravarthy was added as a late replacement for Yashasvi Jaiswal, while Harshit Rana came in for Jasprit Bumrah. The team already has the services of Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel  Washington Sundar, and Kuldeep Yadav. 

The former India star said, “Five spinners in Dubai? I don't know. I think we are one spinner too many, if not two. The two left-arm spinners are your best all-rounders alongside Hardik Pandya. So both Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja are going to play. Hardik will also play and Kuldeep will play. If you want Varun Chakravarthy in the team, then you will have to make a pacer sit out and use Hardik as your second pacer. Else you will have to drop a spinner to bring in a third seamer."