Ravichandran Ashwin: A Remarkable Career in Cricket.
Born on September 17, 1986, former Indian international cricket player Ravichandran Ashwin, popularly known as Ravi Ashwin, is well-known for his outstanding contributions to the game. He is regarded by many as one of the greatest spinners in cricket history. He is a respectable lower-order batsman and a right-arm off-spin bowler.
Ashwin was a key member of the Indian teams that won the 2011 ODI World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy. India won the 2013 title thanks to his vital bowling in the last over. He represented South Zone and Tamil Nadu at home and played for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL. On December 18, 2024, Ashwin announced his retirement from all international cricket competitions.
Test Cricket and Records.
Ashwin has taken over 500 wickets in Test matches. He is the fastest bowler to reach 300 Test wickets in an innings. With 11 Test “Man of the Series” awards, he and Muttiah Muralitharan are tied for first place. Only three players in cricket history have taken 500 wickets and scored 3,000 runs in Test matches, including Ashwin, a powerful all-rounder. In addition, he has six Test hundreds.
By September 2024, Ashwin was the top-ranked bowler in the ICC Men’s Player Rankings and the highest-rated Indian bowler in Test cricket history.
Early Career and Transition.
He began his career as an opening batsman but shifted to off-spin bowling and lower-order batting after having little success at the top. After making his first-class debut in December 2006, he went on to captain Tamil Nadu in the ensuing seasons.
Ashwin’s consistent IPL performances, especially for CSK, earned him a call-up to the Indian squad for limited-overs matches in June 2010. He was the leading wicket-taker and Player of the Tournament when CSK won the Champions League T20 in 2010. He also contributed to CSK’s victories in the Indian Premier Leagues in 2010 and 2011.
International Debut and Success.
Ashwin’s first ODI match against Sri Lanka took place on June 5, 2010. He faced Zimbabwe in his maiden Twenty20 International shortly after. He played for India in the 2010 and 2011 Cricket World Cup championships.
In November 2011, Ashwin won “Man of the Match” for his nine wickets in his Test debut against the West Indies in Delhi. He became only the third Indian to score a century and take five wickets in a single Test match during the same series, which also marked his first international century.
Consistent Performer.
During India’s home series against Australia, He took 29 wickets in four games, demonstrating his excellent performance in subcontinental conditions. His exceptional play throughout the 2015–16 season earned him the honors of Test Cricketer of the Year and ICC Cricketer of the Year.
He was selected five times to the ICC Men’s Test Team of the Year and was a part of the ICC Men’s Test Team of the Decade (2011–20). In 2015, the Indian government presented him with the prestigious Arjuna Award.
Retirement.
He announced his retirement from international cricket on December 18, 2024, while India was touring Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Early Life and Personal Details.
Ravichandran and Chitra welcomed Ashwin into the world on September 17, 1986, in Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu. Ravichandran, his father, was a fast bowler in club cricket. After attending Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan School, Ashwin went on to St. Bede’s School for his postsecondary education. At Chennai’s SSN College of Engineering, he earned a B.Tech in information technology.
After being trained by Chandrasekar Rao during his early years, Ashwin started playing cricket for the YMCA at the age of nine. He was then taught by CK Vijay Kumar at St. Bede’s. He changed from being a medium-pacer to an off-spin player after consulting his coach.
Ashwin resides in West Mambalam, Chennai. He married his childhood friend, Prithi Narayanan, on November 13, 2011. They have two daughters together.
IPL and County Career.
He began his IPL career with CSK in 2008, and he played a significant role in their championship wins in 2010 and 2011. While playing for Nottinghamshire in 2019 and Worcestershire in 2017, he made significant contributions with the bat and the ball.
