Former Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has created a huge storm on social media by making a bold comment about the fanbase of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Speaking about the ongoing discussion regarding Ravindra Jadeja’s possible exit from Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Ravichandran Ashwin made a statement which instantly went viral.
Ashwin answered the question on why Ravindra Jadeja’s alleged trade deal with Rajasthan Royals (RR) did not generate the kind of emotional reaction on social media that one could have expected had it involved someone like Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma.
Ravichandran Ashwin calls Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma fans ‘bots’ amid Ravindra Jadeja trade drama
However, Ravichandran Ashwin shocked everyone by claiming that a lot of hype around Kohli and Rohit has been artificially created. The former Indian off-spinner said that many of the fan accounts supporting the two Indian icons are not genuine, even calling them “bots”.
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He suggested that these paid campaigns often make certain topics trend and emphasized that true CSK fans are expressing genuine emotions for Jadeja.
Ashwin’s comments come amid reports that Jadeja could be included in Rajasthan Royals along with Sam Curran in place of Sanju Samson. He said that whatever Jadeja brings – electric fielding, left-arm spin bowling and strong finishing – he is irreplaceable for CSK.
Ravichandran Ashwin says real CSK supporters are saddened by Ravindra Jadeja’s exit
“Maybe it’s because of the algorithm, and especially a lot of players get more fans because of social media campaigns. But that doesn’t mean real fans aren’t talking about it. What I’ve seen on Instagram in the last few days is how bad they all are feeling about Jadeja leaving the franchise,” Ravichandran Ashwin said in a video on his YouTube channel.
The former CSK icon said, “Even in the comments section of the video, people are abusing us, as if we have traded out Jadeja. They are asking me to tell CSK to call off the trade. So, all the love is coming out. In this generation, a lot of people write on social media, but they don’t have faces; we can’t recognize them. Sometimes it’s a campaign; sometimes it’s bots. The real fans are definitely Jadeja. Feeling bad for what he brings to the table.”
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Ravichandran Ashwin surprised by the possibility of Ravindra Jadeja being out of CSK; says the deal is almost finalized
Meanwhile, Ravichandran Ashwin has expressed surprise over Ravindra Jadeja’s possible exit from CSK. The former Indian all-rounder said that the move seems unusual for CSK, as they are known to trust their players and stick with them. He said that the news of Jadeja’s possible trade has left fans sad, with many in the franchise not wanting to let him go.
The former off-spinner believes that CSK’s strength has always been its loyalty and consistency, which has made its mark over the years under the leadership of MS Dhoni. He further added, “I have actually been watching it (the trade) again and again and again and again and I am thinking that CSK probably missed a trick.”
However, Ashwin claimed that if the deal falls through at this stage it is “very, very difficult” unless “Jadeja or Samson change their mind, or the franchises do a U-turn.” He signed off by saying, “In my view, it’s a chalk and cheese business. In many ways, RR got the niche they needed to fill, and CSK got the face they wanted.”
