R Ashwin On ‘Do It For Dravid’ Campaign: ‘Narratives For Someone In Team Sport Is The Worst’
r ashwin on do it for rahul dravid campaign narratives for someone in team sport is the worst ind vs sa world cup final
In a statement that mirrors his coach Rahul Dravid's perspective, veteran Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has minimised the importance of individual player narratives in a team sport like cricket. This comes after a social media campaign surfaced - "Do It For Dravid", calling for India to win the T20 World Cup for Dravid.
Dravid previously dismissed the campaign, stating his focus was on India winning the trophy for the nation, not for himself. Ashwin, known for his outspoken nature, has now reiterated his coach's stance.
“Narratives of building it up for someone in a team sport is the worst thing that can happen for a healthy team environment.
“I know this man really well, and despite being offered the narrative, he turns it down in a classy manner.
“Let’s fight once more. #proudofteamIndia.” - Ashwin wrote on X.
Earlier, Dravid dismissed the social media trend in a conversation with Star Sports, stating that it does not relate to him.
"It’s totally against who I am as a person and it’s totally against my values. You know, I don't really believe in this 'Do it for somebody'. I love that quote about somebody asking somebody else, 'Why do you want to climb Mount Everest?' and he says 'I want to climb Mount Everest because it's there. Why do we want to win this World Cup? because it's there," Dravid said in a video released by Star Sports.
"It's not for anyone, it's not for anybody, it's just there to win [World Cup]. I just want to play good cricket and yeah, doing it for someone is totally against who I am as a person and what I believe in so I don't want to talk about it and discuss it. If you can get that campaign removed, I will appreciate it," Dravid added.
Ashwin's comments once again put emphasis on a team-first mentality. His statement highlighted the importance of recognising the contributions of all eleven players on the field, not just a single individual.