IPL: Virender Sehwag criticized for taking unnecessary dig at R Ashwin during RCB vs SRH
Former India cricketer Virender Sehwag was heavily criticized by fans on social media for taking several digs at Ravichandran Ashwin, who made his commentary debut in the Indian Premier League on JioStar on Saturday, March 29.
What started as banter between Sehwag and Ashwin, with both players trying to pull each other’s leg, soon turned sour after repetition. Instead of analyzing the match, Sehwag started telling personal stories, some of which were targeted at Ashwin.
Fans were particularly unhappy with one incident that has since gone viral. Reportedly, during the match, Sehwag had asked Ashwin to use his brain less while commentating. What initially started as a joke turned into an awkward silence when Sehwag took the matter out of proportion.
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The former India off-spinner, known for his wit, did not tolerate this and continued the conversation. Things went a little awry when Sehwag reportedly took another dig at Ashwin and suggested that one should not analyze the game too much on the commentary panel.
Sehwag said, “Today we will not talk through logic or thinking, but from the heart.”
Ashwin reacted immediately.
Ashwin replied, “My parents have always taught me to think before speaking and never say anything without thinking. But you are asking me to do exactly the opposite.”
Sehwag then made a comment that appeared to be a direct dig at Ashwin and his YouTube and Instagram followers over the years.
Sehwag reportedly said, “Some people deliberately think before speaking. They say, ‘This player has more fans.’ If I speak negatively about him, my followers will decrease. If I speak positively, my followers will increase.”
It is pertinent to mention that India Today was not able to verify the exact sequence of events.
Fans reacted strongly to this exchange, with what they saw as a poor level of narrative from Sehwag and other Hindi commentators in the opening game of the season. This comes on the backdrop of criticism from commentators like Navjot Singh Sidhu and Aakash Chopra, who have faced criticism in recent times.
In fact, Chopra had issued a public statement during the World Cup alleging that a targeted hate campaign was launched against him.
This episode once again focused on the balance between entertainment and analysis in live commentary, with viewers expecting sharp insight rather than extended personal banter, especially in a high-profile broadcast like the Indian Premier League.
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