R Ashwin Retires. Whats wrong with you!

No, the dust hasn't settled, a sportsman has left midway through a series without explanation (I am done isn't a valid one) especially since its a vital series, a lot remains to be played for and we all know the fighter Ashwin is.  There is something else going on and we are not privy to it. All is not right in the Indian cricket team, the emperor is naked, and nobody is calling it out.

The first cardinal rule for any sportsman in a team sport is, the team is higher. A lot can happen in the next two weeks, Jadeja gets injured, Washington tweaks something and the team will be in desperate need of an off spinner, that off spinner will be back in Chennai, thats simply not done sir. You were chosen for a mission, weather you get to play in the final 11 or not, you stand with the team helping them out in any way possible until the last ball is bowled. You don't abandon your post because "you are done", you are not done until the team is done.

That being said, counsellors always tell an abused person that there is no better tomorrow, get out of the toxic relationship now they say, that might be the case with Ashwin and the Indian cricket team, we can only speculate. As all speculations go, we might be very far from the truth, but, if its true, there is a deeper malaise in the Indian cricketing setup that needs to be addressed, covering it up is not helping anybody.

Its time for Ashwin to retire, yes, but like this no, does he deserve a farewell test, I dont care, one of the bigger problems with Indian cricket is how much we baby sit our players, we call them professional athletes but how we treat them with kid gloves, thats another "whats wrong with you". For now though, Ashwin / Indian cricket team, you should come clean for the good for the sport.