Burning question raised as bitter feud between India captain Virat Kohli and veteran Ravichandran Ashwin rocks camp

[SujitPrakash]

The feud bubbling away between India captain Virat Kohli and veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has led a former England cricketer to pose a burning question.

 

Former England batter Nick Compton, who played 16 Tests between 2012 and 2016, has weighed in on the icy relationship amid India's ill-fated T20 World Cup campaign.

 

The long-time T20 powerhouse is on the brink of sensationally missing the World Cup semi-finals, following thumping defeats to Pakistan and New Zealand.

 

A feud is bubbling away between Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin. (Getty)

 

 

While Ashwin is a member of India's World Cup squad, the gun tweaker is yet to feature in the tournament.

 

The 35-year-old was also a staggering omission from all four Tests against England across August and September.

 

"I just don't understand how Kohli's prickly relationship with Ashwin is allowed to keep him out of India teams," Compton posted on Twitter.

 

"Do you think captains should be allowed such autonomy?"

 

Kohli announced just days after the release of India's World Cup squad that he would relinquish the captaincy in the shortest format of the game at the completion of the tournament.

 

Ashwin reportedly complained to the Board of Control of Cricket in India that Kohli had made him feel uncomfortable after the World Test Championship final loss to New Zealand in June.

 

Virat Kohli, pictured above during India's T20 World Cup loss to New Zealand, will relinquish the captaincy in the shortest format of the game at the end of the tournament. (ICC via Getty Images)

 

 

It was reported that Ashwin told the BCCI that Kohli had accused him of not showing enough intent in the final, leading the BCCI to push the skipper into resigning.

 

Ashwin will eventually retire as a cricket great, having taken 413 Test wickets, 150 one-day international wickets and 52 T20 international scalps.

 

The brilliant finger-spinner and handy lower-order batter won the 2016 ICC Cricketer of the Year award.

 

https://wwos.nine.com.au/cricket/t20-world-cup-2021-india-squad-virat-kohli-ravichandran-ashwin-feud-nick-compton/7a5864ab-a7c0-4336-a8d0-98b880423139

[South_Paw]

Unsure if this could be believed. 

[Swag]

Compton is a troll.

[SRT100]

Make no mistake, I have always have and always be a fan of Ashwin. He is a fighter and never takes a backseat. Even when he copped some cheap shots in Australia against that arsehole captain Paine, he fired back and had the last laugh. He has plenty of character and spirit.

 

I cant say the same about Kohli.

 

In fact I struggle to think of any other Indian cricketer that really has made me feel like hating the Indian Cricket team. Even with Dhoni, the fact remained he was India's best keeper even though his batting deteriorated. Not to mention he also helps Kohli out a lot with the captaincy.

[asterix]

Ashwin has completely been sidelined by Kohli so far. Not sure if this sidelining will continue in ODIs and Test Matches too. 
Im hoping BCCI to remove Kohli from captaincy in all formats ASAP.

[Jay]

2 hours ago, SRT100 said:

Make no mistake, I have always have and always be a fan of Ashwin. He is a fighter and never takes a backseat. Even when he copped some cheap shots in Australia against that arsehole captain Paine, he fired back and had the last laugh. He has plenty of character and spirit.

 

I cant say the same about Kohli.

 

In fact I struggle to think of any other Indian cricketer that really has made me feel like hating the Indian Cricket team. Even with Dhoni, the fact remained he was India's best keeper even though his batting deteriorated. Not to mention he also helps Kohli out a lot with the captaincy.

He would be a great test captain. Not sure about short format. 

[addicted4444]

44 minutes ago, Jay said:

He would be a great test captain. Not sure about short format. 

Bowlers usually don’t make good captains. I wouldn’t make him captain simply because of that. 
 

It’s very hard to balance thinking strategically about the entire game, and about tactics over the next 3-5 overs, as you have to do in the captain’s role, while remaining laser focused on each delivery as you have to do while bowling.  

[Adi_91]

Is Compton fully aware of the feud? Wow, that must be some insight even without physically being there.

 

This is a classic case of celebrating when your rival is down. 

[figo6762]

Is Compton the asswipe in Indian teams dressing room .. seems to know a lot of details … 

[Adamant]

4 hours ago, SRT100 said:

 

I cant say the same about Kohli.

 

.

Doesn't matter. 

 

When the likes of Ashwin and Jaddu were averaging 50 with the ball on away tours he was the one who was keeping our heads high. 

[maniac]

Ashwin has probably come out the best from this debacle lol. Had he played he would have been abused too. He needs to send Kohli a nice Halloween or Christmas or Thanksgiving gift because don’t think Kohli family celebrate Diwali, Dussera,Sankranti etc etc anyways 

Edited November 1, 2021 by maniac

[sensible-indian]

Cant blame Kohli for not picking Ashwin in World t20.

 

Eng series was a crime.

 

Kohli escaped with that fiasco.

[sage]

"I just don't understand how Kohli's prickly relationship with Ashwin is allowed to keep him out of India teams," Compton posted on Twitter.

 

"Do you think captains should be allowed such autonomy?"

 

This is literally what Morgan does with Hales

[diga]

1 hour ago, maniac said:

Ashwin has probably come out the best from this debacle lol. Had he played he would have been abused too. He needs to send Kohli a nice Halloween or Christmas or Thanksgiving gift because don’t think Kohli family celebrate Diwali, Dussera,Sankranti etc etc anyways 

Look forward to reading Ashwin's tell-all book

[cricketfan28]

Ashwin has no  mystery in him .. he is an openbook.

Edited November 1, 2021 by cricketfan28

[kirkutfan]

The feud story, in the way described, doesn’t seem believable. Ashwin is the type of guy who, if he had an issue, would take on Kohli directly.  Also, the answer to Compton’s question is Yes, the captain has a huge say on the final eleven. No mystery there. That is why he gets the criticism when things don’t work out. Similarly, though, he stuck with his 4 pace bowler, one spinner combo in the England series even though many thought the 3 pace 2 spin combo  (which would have got Ashwin in the series) was better. In that instance, his call worked.

[vvvslaxman]

Ashwin is probably past his sell by date in T20. But if you compare his LOI bowling with Jaddu's bowling it is way ahead. Fake all rounder Jaddu continues darting at 100 kph who was complemented by another 100 kph darter VC. On these sluggish pitches these 2 provided enough pace for players to work with. Ideally Ashwin and Rahul chahar should have been played in place of them. Firing it in should be a surprising element like Shakib does. Not every single ball.