Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have solidified their status as two of India's most impactful spinners over the past twenty years. Their collaboration has proven vital for the national team on numerous occasions, with both players ranking among the Top 10 highest wicket-takers for India. While the duo typically bowls together on home soil, Jadeja often gets the nod over Ashwin for overseas Test matches. In a recent interview, Ashwin was asked how he handles this dynamic, to which he replied, "You’re talking about jealousy."
Ashwin took the opportunity to praise Jadeja, referring to him as the "most talented cricketer" he has encountered. "Jadeja is incredibly skilled; everything about him is instinctive. Over time, our relationship has grown as we've learned to appreciate our differences. I tend to overthink, while he takes a more instinctual approach. It took time to understand one another, but now we have a solid working relationship," Ashwin stated in an interview with Vimal Kumar on YouTube.
The seasoned spinner emphasised that he harbours no jealousy towards Jadeja. He suggested that any such feelings are merely a "conditioning we need to move beyond." "It's not Jadeja's fault if I'm not selected. I don't possess the kind of jealousy that would make me want to exclude him from playing just to secure my spot. Jealousy is something we need to work on," he clarified.
During the discussion, Ashwin underscored the importance of effective communication with players who are not in the national squad to prevent misunderstandings. "It's vital to manage players who aren't currently playing with clarity and reassurance. Being replaced is less about fault and more about opportunity and team dynamics," he emphasised. "The focus should remain on cultivating internal motivation instead of making external comparisons," Ashwin concluded.