'Absolutely filthy': Ashwin explains why Indian players can't speak like Nathan Lyon after being dropped

NEW DELHI: Australia’s premier off-spinner Nathan Lyon stunned the cricketing world when he openly admitted he was feeling “absolutely filthy” after being dropped for the second Ashes Test at the Gabba. The rare emotional outburst went viral, prompting admiration from fans for his honesty — and sparking a debate on why Indian cricketers don’t react similarly when axed from the playing XI.

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That question recently landed straight in front of India’s own veteran spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin, during a discussion on his YouTube show Ash Ki Baat. This time, instead of dodging, Ashwin offered a revealing insight into the unspoken rules that govern Indian cricket culture.




“Nathan Lyon is lucky,” Ashwin began, placing the issue beyond just performance. “If anyone is dropped from the team, the emotions would be similar to what Lyon expressed in front of the world. He got the media to express his views, and he did just that. The Australian team wouldn’t feel bad, and he would play the Adelaide Test. I am just happy for Nathan Lyon.”

But the honesty that earned Lyon respect, Ashwin believes, could cost an Indian cricketer dearly.

“People have emotions, and they will do just that. 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? However, I really respect Nathan Lyon; he let his emotions out. Good on him,” Ashwin added.



According to Ashwin, the issue isn’t about restrictions — it’s about consequences. Indian players are allowed to speak, but must constantly weigh what he calls the “collateral damage.”

“We, as Indian cricketers, are allowed to express our opinion. No one is stopping us. But what is collateral damage? 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. I hope this will change with the passage of time, and it should.”

Ashwin then offered a striking cultural comparison, illustrating how self-expression is celebrated abroad but judged at home.

“Just take the example of Chris Gayle… He himself said, ‘I am the Universe Boss’, and we accepted that. Now imagine, tomorrow, Abhishek Sharma comes to the press conference wearing a big chain and exclaims to the world, ‘I am the Universe Boss’. Will we accept him? No. Because in our mind, there is a conditioning that we need to credit someone else, no matter how hard we have worked. I hope that really changes.”

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