Ashwin reacts to Nathan Lyon's ‘filthy’ statement, reveals why Indian players can't do the same: ‘I will lose out…’

By Admin

09 Dec, 2025

Ravichandran Ashwin has finally opened up on a topic that has long intrigued fans: Why don’t Indian cricketers publicly express their frustration when dropped from the playing XI? The discussion resurfaced after Australia’s premier off-spinner Nathan Lyon made headlines for calling himself “absolutely filthy” after he was benched for the second Ashes Test at the Gabba. His raw honesty was widely appreciated across the cricketing world. But the incident also prompted a pressing question Why don’t Indian players do this too?

This very question was put before Ashwin during a recent YouTube discussion. Interestingly, despite being benched several times in overseas tours throughout his career, the former India spinner who retired from international cricket last December never publicly voiced his disappointment. The Lyon incident gave Ashwin the perfect opportunity to explain why.

Ashwin first responded with humour, but then offered a candid, thoughtful insight into the contrasting realities faced by Indian players. “Nathan Lyon is lucky,” he remarked on his YouTube channel Ash Ki Baat. “If anyone is dropped from the team, the emotions would be similar to what Lyon expressed… The Australian team wouldn’t feel bad, and he would play the Adelaide Test. I am just happy for Nathan Lyon.”

Ashwin admitted that Indian players do feel the same emotions, but expressing them comes with risks. “People have emotions… However, I cannot express my emotions, because if I do, I will lose out, and only my harm will be caused. So why will I do that?” he said. He further praised Lyon for his honesty, adding, “Good on him.”

The “Collateral Damage” Factor

While Ashwin clarified that Indian players are allowed to express themselves, he explained that cultural conditioning and perception play a massive role. “Your expression and emotion are not given as much respect because you will be stamped as a person of a certain character for doing that,” he said. This fear of long-term repercussions sponsors, team environment, public perception often stops Indian cricketers from being completely transparent.

Ashwin stressed that the culture needs to evolve. He hopes that, with time, players in India will be able to speak freely without worrying about “collateral damage.”

A Cultural Contrast

The veteran spinner also highlighted how personality expression in sport is viewed differently in India compared to other countries. Citing Chris Gayle as an example, Ashwin said, “He himself said, ‘I am the Universe Boss’, and we accepted that. Now imagine Abhishek Sharma coming to a press conference wearing a big chain and saying, ‘I am the Universe Boss’. Will we accept him? No.”

According to Ashwin, Indian society has a deeply ingrained mindset that discourages self-praise and open expression, even when an individual has worked extremely hard to reach the top. “I hope that really changes,” he concluded.

Conclusion

Ashwin’s reflections shed light on a crucial yet often overlooked aspect of Indian cricket the cultural and psychological pressures that influence how players communicate publicly. While honesty like Nathan Lyon’s is celebrated elsewhere, Indian players often have far more at stake, making such openness a luxury rather than an option. Ashwin’s nuanced explanation not only highlights these challenges but also calls for a shift towards a more accepting and balanced sporting culture in India.