'Ashwin?' photo on Australia's dressing room whiteboard goes viral. Netizens guess what it means

Ravichandran Ashwin trended on social media platform X today as India takes on South Africa in the first Test at Centurion. Ashwin, who is shy of the 500-wicket mark in Tests, scored 8 runs in the first innings before he became a victim of fast bowler Rabada. Meanwhile, a photo of Australia's dressing room with three Indian cricketers name on a whiteboard - Ashwin?, Jadeja, and Axar - has gone viral. IPL team Rajasthan Royals also shared it on X, with the caption "Question mark for Ashwin because the Aussies are still trying to figure him out."

In the photo, Steve Smith stands beside a whiteboard with a list titled "Greatest Spinning All-rounders In History." It features names like Daniel Vettori, Sir Garfield Sobers, Ravindra Jadeja, Shakib Al Hasan, Ravichandran Ashwin, Travis Head, Richie Benaud, Samit Patel, and Axar Patel.

Coincidentally, tn the ICC rankings for Test all-rounders, Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin claim the top two spot while Axar Patel secures the fifth position.


The Centurion match against South Africa marks Ashwin's return to Test cricket after around five months. In 94 tests, the off-spinner has taken 489 wickets at an average of 23.65, including 34 five-wicket-hauls and eight ten-wicket hauls. He could become the second-fastest to reach 500 Test wickets. In 13 Tests against South Africa, he has taken 56 wickets at an average of 21.94.

What 'Ashwin?' means

Meanwhile, netizens have dropped clues why Australia have put a question mark against his name. "The question mark is because they don't know if he's a batting allrounder or a bowling allrounder," says an user. In Tests, the off-spinner averages 27.22 with the bat, with five centuries and 14 half-centuries despite batting lower down the order.

Another user said: "Question mark for Ashwin as we usually aren't sure if he'll play." Another said: "Actually they are still confused that whether Indian team will make him play or bench him."

"They were thinking whether Ashwin will play the 1st test match or not," said another user.

Ashwin's omission from the playing XI has often been a big debate. The decision to play Shardul ahead of Ashwin in the World Test Champtionship final had drawn a lot of criticism.