My job is not to butter: Ravi Shastri counters Ravichandran Ashwin's 'crushed' remark

Ashwin said he felt that he was "thrown under the bus" when Shastri referred to Kuldeep Yadav as India's lead overseas spinner after the latter took five wickets in the Sydney Test against Australia.

Countering Ashwin, Shastri told The Indian Express, "My job is not to butter everyone's toast. My job is to state facts without an agenda."

"Ashwin did not play the Test in Sydney and Kuldeep played and took fifer and bowled brilliantly. It was only fair I give that young kid who was probably playing his first or second Test match overseas and he bowled magnificently in that Test match. He bowled as well as any spinner has bowled in that Test match.

"So, I said the way he has bowled here is every chance he could be India's number one bowler overseas. Now, if that hurt some other player, I would say good. I am glad I made that statement and Ashwin made this statement. Because if it hurt him and he was upset, I'm glad the way he went about his job," the former coach said.

Ashwin, who said he was happy for Yadav's five-wicket haul, Told ESPNCricinfo, "I hold Ravi bhai in high esteem. We all do. And I understand we all can say things and then retract them. At that moment, though, I felt crushed. Absolutely crushed. We all talk about how important it is to enjoy your team-mates' success. And I was happy for Kuldeep.

"I have not been able to get a five-for but he has a five-for in Australia. I know how big it is. Even when I have bowled well (at other times), I haven't ended up with a five-for. So I am genuinely happy for him. And it's an extremely happy occasion, to win in Australia."

"But if I have to come and partake in his happiness, and the success of the team, I must feel like I belong there. If I feel like I am being thrown under the bus, how am I supposed to get up and come for a party to enjoy the team's or team-mate's success?

"I went back to my room and then I spoke to my wife. And my children were there. So we were able to, you know, shrug it off, and I still made it to the party, because, at the end of the day, we had won a massive series," he added.

Ashwin, who was missing from the Indian squad, is now back in the side.

After playing the T20 World Cup, the star cricketer helped India to win at home against New Zealand. He has also been picked for the South African series.