Ravichandran Ashwin on MS Dhoni: Star off-spinner R Ashwin has still not forgotten the trust shown by Mahendra Singh Dhoni by handing him the new ball in the final of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2011 against Royal Challengers Bangalore, which gave a new direction to his career and for this he considers himself former Considered indebted to the Indian captain. Dhoni, adept at making unconventional strategies, had just given the new ball to Ashwin in the 2011 IPL final and this emerging off-spinner had taken the wicket of in-form Chris Gayle on the very fourth ball.
That magical night at Chepauk for Chennai Super Kings was just the beginning for Ashwin and since then, in a tumultuous decade-long journey, he has played 100 Tests and taken 516 wickets in the traditional format of the game. Ashwin has not forgotten the moment when Dhoni showed confidence in him during a felicitation ceremony organized by Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) to celebrate the double achievement of 500 wickets and 100 Tests.
TNCA honored Ashwin with an award of Rs 1 crore for his achievements. Ashwin said emotionally, “I usually don’t look for words to express my feelings. I am really grateful for this honor by coming here.”
Giving credit to his first IPL captain Dhoni, Ashwin said, “I met all the great players Matthew Hayden and MS Dhoni in the dressing room of Chennai Super Kings in 2008. I was nothing then and playing in a team that had Muttiah Muralitharan Were.”
He said, “I will be indebted to Dhoni all my life for what he gave me. He gave me a chance with the new ball when Chris Gayle was in front of me. And after 17 years, Anil Bhai will talk about this incident.”Chennai team In 2008, Ashwin was included as a local spinner but because of Muralitharan, he did not get a single match. But this 37 year old bowler from Chennai reached here by continuously improving himself.