India’s veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin feels no excuse can make them forget their disappointing loss in the T20 World Cup in the semi-final against England. India suffered a humiliating loss of 10 wickets against England as they were totally dominated by the Jos Buttler-led team.
India posted 168 runs on the board after Hardik Pandya scored an unbeaten knock of 63 runs off 33 balls while Virat Kohli scored 50 runs. However, India’s bowling looked spineless as they failed to take even a single wicket.
India had done well in the Super 12 stage but they looked flat in the all-important semi-final against England. The Rohit Sharma-led team could not come up with their best when it mattered the most and it led to their downfall.
Speaking on his YouTube channel on Wednesday, November 16, Ashwin explained: “Everyone would have felt bad seeing Team India not win the tournament or reach the final. I agree, it would have been shattering. I don’t think any excuse will make you forget it. Definitely, it is a disappointing moment. But we all have to move on.”
Ashwin feels reaching the semi-finals stages was a good result but admitted the fans’ disappointment as the team could not go all the way.
“We can’t call it a disappointing campaign. We lost in the semi-finals. Reaching the semi-finals and finals can be considered an achievement. But from an Indian fan’s point of view, and the expectations they have of this team, I totally understand the disappointment from the fans.
“But we players are at least 200-300 times more disappointed than what you all went through.”
Ashwin also showered praise on England and feels this is the way the white-ball format should be played. England has adopted an aggressive approach with the bat and it has paid dividends for them.
“Congratulations to the English cricket team. The renaissance and resurgence of the English white-ball team ever since the 2015 World Cup is nothing but inspiring.
“They didn’t qualify for the semi-finals in 2015. After that, under Eoin Morgan, they completely changed their style, proving to everyone that this is how white-ball cricket should be played.”
India will take on New Zealand in the three-match T20I series.
