LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 04: Mohammed Siraj of India celebrates the match winning wicket of Gus Atkinson of England with teammates on day five of the 5th Rothesay Test Match at The Kia Oval on August 04, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

R Ashwin didn't hold back while discussing the recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy and criticized England cricketers for disrespecting the "cricketing gods." Ashwin slammed England captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum for promoting what he termed reckless cricket.

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"As a captain, as a coach, you can proclaim to the world that this is your brand of cricket," Ashwin said on his Hindi YouTube show Ash Ki Baat. "They can say that Brook played the way we wanted him to play, that he embraced our beliefs. All of this is easier said than done, but Test cricket needs a certain amount of balance. Yes, I agree that this approach got you runs in the first innings, but in the fourth innings, when you're batting on 100 and the finish line is in sight, it becomes your responsibility to see your team through." Ashwin highlighted Harry Brook's reckless shot after scoring a fantastic century, which gave India an opening at The Oval. "When he (Brook) walked in at 100/3, England were not in the game at all. He took chances against Akash Deep when England were staring down the barrel, and a big defeat was looming. But when he got out, it was a moment he could have cherished. He could have walked out of The Oval with his bat held high alongside Joe Root, who was breaking record after record, and could have won the series 3-1 for England. But he played a reckless shot, and that mistake is why England lost the match and ended up drawing the series.

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Was Harry Brook's shot a turning point in the match?

Absolutely, it cost the game No, the team had other chances Maybe, but other factors played a role

"Brook definitely missed that opportunity. Everything fell on Root's shoulders. And, fortunately for India, the conditions changed. Such things happen when the cricketing gods are disrespected. "The way England disrespected the cricketing gods — even the clouds came together, cried on the pitch, and allowed the ball to move a lot," Ashwin said.

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