Ashwin snubs Gambhir, credits Rohit and Dravid for Indias white-ball revolution

New Delhi: Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has credited ex-skipper Rohit Sharma and former head coach Rahul Dravid for the white-ball revolution in Indian cricket, which has brought plenty of success for the nation.

Ashwin, known for his forthrightness, hailed the Rohit-Rahul duo for moulding India's batting approach from conservative to aggressive.

While Ashwin didn't mention Gautam Gambhir's name in his YouTube video, some would see his comments as an indirect dig at the current India head coach.

Gambhir's record in white-ball cricket is good too, with India winning the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and Asia Cup 2025 under his coaching.

The iconic off-spinner said Rohit and Rahul not only encouraged a more attacking style but also led by example, marking a big shift in India's approach in white-ball cricket.

"Rohit as a captain has always been laying his stamp by showing the team what he wants from it. The transitional batting that India has gone through in T20 cricket and ODI cricket --the way we bat fast -- a lot of credit for that goes to Rohit and Rahul bhai," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel 'Ash Ki Baat.'

"They showed the way, Rahul bhai said this is how we have to play and Rohit showed the way..paved the way and eventually it has changed the way how Indian perceived batting. Batting is not average it is purely strike rate in white ball cricket," he added.

Under Rohit and Dravid's leadership, India shifted to a more proactive template after a series of disappointing results in CC tournaments.

The template change was first visible during the 2023 ODI World Cup at home, where India steamrolled every team in the league stage with an attacking mindset, and later went on to win the 2024 T20 World Cup unbeaten in the Caribbean and USA.

Having retired from T20Is and Tests, Rohit and Virat Kohli are now playing only in ODI cricket. With the sightings of India's two stalwarts becoming rare in international cricket, Ashwin wants the fans to cherish their remaining time on the big stage.

"I will say one thing, how much time we have to watch and enjoy Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma bat, please let’s do it because once they are done, we could hear talks like 'oh, what a player he was! Please bring him back.' That doesn't cut ice for me.

"For however long they play, let us celebrate them as long as they are playing. As I said, life moves on very fast. Time does not wait for anyone. It is very important that we realise that the time is less. So it is better that we enjoy whatever they are doing."

Ashwin questioned the exclusion of all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy from the playing XI in the first ODI against South Africa, despite Hardik Pandya's unavailability.

It was expected that Reddy, a pace-bowling all-rounder, would be picked in the series opener on Sunday in Ranchi. However, the youngster spent his time on the bench.

"If we are not able to find a place for Nitish Kumar Reddy in a team that does not have Hardik Pandya, then there is something wrong in the squad selection, seriously, "Why was he picked? Because the fact that he can give what Hardik can give, and can get better over a period of time. But, if we can't find a place for Nitish Kumar Reddy in this particular XI, then the squad selection must be properly reviewed," Ashwin said.

Meanwhile, Pandya, who has not played competitive cricket for the last two months due to an injury in his left quadricep, has been cleared to play in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT). India's premier domestic T20 tournament will provide a platform for Pandya to prove his form and fitness for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa, New Zealand and give the selectors a fair idea of his readiness for the T20 World Cup 2026 scheduled to be held in the February-March window in India and Sri Lanka.