Ravichandran Ashwin’s YouTube video from the 2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy has resurfaced in a lighthearted chat with Rahul Dravid. The former India coach playfully teased Ravichandran Ashwin for a Tamil-language clip that critics once claimed had “coached” the Australian team on playing spin. What began as educational content turned into one of the most unusual talking points of the series.
How the Controversy Unfolded
Ashwin had posted the video after Australia’s second Test defeat, explaining techniques on “how to play spin in India.” Fans misread the intent, and when India lost the third Test at Indore, the backlash grew stronger. Social media mocked the off-spinner with memes, forcing his channel admin to even change the video’s thumbnail.
Dravid’s Witty Remark
Speaking in the latest episode of Kutti Stories with Ash, Dravid poked fun at the spinner.
“You even coached the Australian team. I got sent a clip. Unfortunately, it was in Tamil. So that’s the one I’ve seen about you. You’re speaking in Tamil and with a little bit of Tamil that I understand, you’re coaching the Australian team in the middle of the Australian series, how to play spin. And I’m thinking, Ash, the series is not over,” Dravid said while Ashwin laughed.
Ashwin quipped back: “If I knew how to do that, I would have told our boys how to play spin. I mean, why would I go and tell the Aussies?”
Dravid then added humorously: “The flak I got was ‘Ashwin is coaching better than you are — what are you doing?’”
Ashwin’s Chat With Mitchell Starc
Ashwin also revealed an amusing exchange with Australian pacer Mitchell Starc during the Indore Test.
“An interesting thing was that (Mitchell) Starc came and told me. I mean, he bowled a bumper, and I just left it in the Indore Test match. I think we were 80 for 7 or something. We went for lunch, and he was walking with me. He was like, ‘Can I tell you how to play the bouncer like your YouTube video?'” Ashwin recalled.
Decoding the Video
Dravid speculated that the Australians may have hired someone to translate the Tamil content. He said: “It’s good to know that Starc knows Tamil. I think it was maybe the Australian guys got some Tamil guy to sort of…” Ashwin explained that the subtitles likely helped the Aussies understand, adding to the irony of the controversy.
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