Ravichandran Ashwin: The Great Chapter of Indian Cricket
Ravichandran Ashwin is one such star of Indian cricket who has earned fame all over the world with his game. He is known as a great off-spin bowler, skilled all-rounder and a strategic player. His career is full of inspirational achievements and unforgettable moments.
Early life and debut in cricket
Ashwin was born on 17 September 1986 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu to a Tamil Brahmin family. He had a passion for cricket since childhood. He was educated at St. Bede’s Anglo Indian School, where he participated in sports. After this, he completed his B.Tech from SSN College of Engineering. Interestingly, Ashwin initially started playing as a medium pace bowler. However, later he chose off-spin bowling and this is where the real journey of his career started
International cricket career
- Ashwin made his ODI debut against Zimbabwe in June 2010. After this, in November 2011, he made his Test debut against West Indies. In his very first Test match, he impressed everyone with his bowling.
- Ashwin also made his mark in T20 and he also performed brilliantly in the shorter format. He is known for his variations, including flight, carrom ball and accurate line and length.
Career achievements
Ashwin’s career is filled with many amazing achievements:
Great performance in Test cricket:
- Ashwin holds the distinction of becoming the second-highest wicket-taker in the history of Indian cricket by taking 537 wickets Only Anil Kumble is ahead of him.
- He also scored 5 centuries in Test cricket, which shows his all-rounder abilities
Man of the Series record:
Ashwin has won the Man of the Series title 11 times in Test cricket This is a world record and shows his consistency and excellence
Reaching milestones quickly:
He is one of the fastest bowlers to take 300 and 400 wickets
ICC rankings:
Many times Ashwin topped the ICC rankings of Test bowlers and all-rounders.
Contribution in IPL:
Ashwin also performed brilliantly in the IPL while playing for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) His bowling has changed the course of the match many times
Playing style and strategy
A big part of Ashwin’s game is his technical proficiency and mind game
Bowling skills:
- His bowling has a unique blend of flight, turn, and accuracy.
- The carrom ball is his specialty, which he used to trick big batsmen.
Batting skills:
- Ashwin has scored crucial runs in the lower order many times. His 5 Test centuries reflect his batting ability.
Mind game:
Ashwin is famous for strategically confusing the opposition batsmen.
Retirement and future plans
Ashwin announced his retirement from Test cricket on 18 December 2024. The announcement came after the third Test against Australia in Brisbane. Talking about his retirement, he said, “If I am not needed in the team, it would be better for me to say goodbye.”
However, he has made it clear that he will continue to play IPL and domestic cricket. His association with Chennai Super Kings will be a great joy for the fans.
Reaction of the cricket world
The cricket world reacted deeply to Ashwin’s retirement.
BCCI statement:
The BCCI praised Ashwin, saying that he has made immense contributions to Indian cricket
Reaction of co-players:
Legends like Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, and Anil Kumble congratulated Ashwin.
Fans support:
#ThankYouAshwin is trending on social media. Fans shared memorable moments of his career.
Impact on Indian cricket
Ashwin has had a profound impact on Indian cricket.
Renaissance of spin bowling:
Ashwin carried forward the legacy of Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble.
Inspiration for youth:
Ashwin has been a role model for young players like Washington Sundar and Axar Patel.
Rise of Team India
Ashwin’s performance helped India to many historic victories