For years, cricket fans and the netizens have debated whether there was friction between two of India's greatest off-spinners, Harbhajan Singh and Ravichandran Ashwin. The two played in different phases of Indian cricket with Ashwin emerging as the team's leading spinner after Harbhajan's time.
Still, comparisons were inevitable. Some fans went further; they suggested Harbhajan was envious of Ashwin's rise, especially as Ashwin climbed up the all-time wicket-takers list.
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While neither player had directly addressed the talk before, that changed recently when Ashwin invited Harbhajan to appear on his YouTube show Kutti Stories. In a candid exchange, the two finally tackled the "jealousy" question that's long floated around on social media.
Was Harbhajan Singh jealous of Ravichandran Ashwin?
Ashwin opened the conversation by saying that most outside assumptions are simply projections.
"People look at everything from their perspective, they believe that others would see the world through their eyes," he said.
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He then asked Harbhajan how he viewed the public comments suggesting jealousy between them, to which the 45-year-old said: "Do you think I am jealous of you? You are sitting with me today, and we have spoken at length. Do you think I am that kind of person?"
Ashwin didn't offer a defensive answer. Instead, he said that even if there had been any envy, it would be entirely human.
"Even if you were jealous at one point in time, I think it's justified. I will never take it wrong because we are all human," he replied.
Ashwin also pointed out how such assumptions go both ways. "Some people believe I retired because Washington Sundar is in the thick of things. All of this is the perspective of others," he added.
With mutual respect and honesty, the two spinners seemed to put the speculation to rest.