![\"'Disease](\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-129647245,imgsize-141166,width-400,resizemode-4\/r-ashwin.jpg\" "\\"")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\nIndia\u2019s spin great Ravichandran Ashwin<\/a> has raised concerns over the growing influence of \u201cfan armies\u201d on social media, suggesting that some of these narratives may not be entirely organic. The veteran off-spinner described the trend as a \u201cdisease\u201d, linking it to the rise of an intense, superstar-driven culture in Indian cricket<\/a>.Ashwin<\/a>\u2019s remarks echo similar concerns voiced by Sunil Gavaskar and current India head coach Gautam Gambhir, both of whom have previously questioned the increasing focus on individuals over the team.<\/p>\n Watch<\/span><\/p>\n IPL 2026 should be audition for the next India T20I captain<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n While acknowledging that modern cricketers are building personal brands and managing their public image, Ashwin made it clear that such efforts cross a line when they come at the expense of fellow players.\u201cThere\u2019s something of a disease going around right now. Many of the opinions that surface on social media through fan armies \u2013 I\u2019ve heard them before, first-hand. Sometimes, I\u2019ve heard these exact views at a breakfast or lunch table, only to see them later appear online under a different name. That\u2019s when you start to wonder: how is this happening?\u201d Ashwin said at the Revsportz Conclave in Kolkata.\u201cI\u2019m not saying players themselves are planting these opinions, but it is concerning. Is there some kind of orchestration? I can\u2019t say for certain, but there does seem to be a structured ecosystem at play. Today, every player is an entrepreneur, and amplifying opinions externally can enhance brand value or improve PR. I understand that. But speaking negatively about another cricketer is something I would never do,\u201d he added.According to Ashwin, the dominance of such narratives has begun to shift attention away from the game itself, with discussions increasingly revolving around individuals rather than cricketing substance.Drawing from personal experience, he pointed to the reaction he received after analysing the dismissals of India\u2019s Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill. What began as a technical breakdown soon turned into criticism from sections of fans who accused him of targeting a specific player.\u201cWhere did this all begin? We started creating narratives around players. We built a superhero culture, almost cinematic in nature. Who even talks about cricket anymore? Hardly anyone focuses on the game itself,\u201d Ashwin said.\u201cSome time ago, I shared a Twitter thread explaining the technical reasons behind Shubman\u2019s dismissals. For me, it\u2019s always about the \u2018what\u2019 and the \u2018why\u2019, never the \u2018who\u2019. But it quickly turned into a comparison \u2013 why focus only on Shubman and not others? I wondered, do people even follow what I say? The problem is, we\u2019ve shifted the conversation away from the essence of the game and made it about individuals,\u201d he added.Meanwhile, the veteran off-spinner called time on his international career midway through the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy after being omitted from the Perth Test. He announced his decision during the post-match press conference in Brisbane. With Washington Sundar preferred ahead of him, Ashwin recognised that the team was heading in a new direction. He finishes as India\u2019s second-highest wicket-taker in Tests, behind Anil Kumble, having claimed 537 wickets in 106 matches.<\/p>\n