It was the start of the IPL. Ashwin shared the dressing room with international stars like Hayden, Dhoni, Hussey, Murali, Fleming, Oram and Raina. He remembers Hayden’s confidence while speaking before the eve of the game. How he said he will deal with Sreesanth, Brett Lee and Shaun Pollock and did exactly the same. Hayden’s knowledge of the game inpresses Ashwin. He told Ashwin how he would prepare and read Harbhajan Singh. Hayden tells Ashwin that Harbhajan does not like bowling around the wicket. Hence, when he bowls over he wicket, he employs to sweep to good effect knowing fully well that it is almost impossible to get him LBW. Ashwin just like so many Tamil Brahmin boys is averse to late-night party. He can launch into a full blown analysis of the game but is scared to talk to anyone outside of the game.
WV Raman and the bond with Ashwin
Back to another Ranji season where he was reunited with Raman. Raman’s mantra is that an offspinner must not be cut and must not be driven through the covers. What he means is that a spinner must not bowl too full and too short. A captain will not be able to set fields on both sides of the pitch. The classic off-spin bowling is to bowl the ball wide, drift it away beautifully, create a gap between the bat and pad, then either go through the gap or get the bat-pad catch. It is easier said than done. He narrates an incident while being the captain of the Tamil Nadu white-ball team. A reporter tells him about a player who can open the innings and bowl too.
Abhinav Mukund, the TN opener was struggling at that time. Ashwin tells the reporter that Abhinav will be dropped if he doesn’t perform in the next game. As this news gets out, Raman calls him and tell him that such statements must not be made in public. It will affect the confidence of the player. Ashwin talks to Abhinav and work things out. Abhinav repaid that faith by scoring a hundred in the final with TN emerging the winner. Raman encouraged Ashwin during his formative years. He was at the sametime, harsh and quite strict with him. Ashwin asked him about this to which Raman replied that Badrinath, the captain of TN has played enough and he respected him but Ashwin was just starting and has lots of ability, he would not like a wall to separate them.
Appreciated by Dhoni
IPL in 2009 was moved to South Africa because of the general elections. Ashwin also became part of the inner circle as CSK that he was in one of the advertisements to promote a brand where he met his future wife, Prithi. Ashwin then goes on about how he tried to impress her and I do not want to get into it. In South Africa, Ashwin bowls the sodakku delivery which is now christened as the carrom ball, to Dhoni in the nets. Dhoni was impressed and asked Ashwin about the field that he will set for such a delivery.
The team that Ashwin preferred
Back in India, he describes about the team that he loves the most. RUCA, Ramakrishnapuram Underarm Cricket Association. They are players of tennis ball cricket and it was time to move them to cricket ball. He talks about some of the players of that team. Raju, the one who was sure that he will play for India. Bhuvesh, the king of street cricket. He wasn’t fast nor was he agile on the pitch. Hence, he became the wicket-keeper. He was gifted Dhoni’s old gloves and pads which he wears for all the games. He even changed his Facebook profile to MS Bhuvesh. Bhuvesh likes to throw the ball to the slip nonchalantly like the international wicket keepers do. He was a showman. Shyam for whom attack is the best form of defence but this was out of fear for the ball. He whacks every delivery that came his way.
Sai Kumar, a corporate employee with neatly worn whites and a Gray Nicholls bat. He always lied about his cricketing credentials. Vicky, younger brother of Bhuvnesh, a good committed cricketer. Fields well and was decent batsman. Sriram, Ashwin’s cousin who wasn’t allowed to play with the leather ball. Aravind Srinivas, the “slow” fast bowler who eventually turns into a spinner and goes onto play in league games. Vivek who played for Jolly Rovers in Chennai Division 1. Rama a reasonably talented right-arm seamer. Manu, a decent legspinner with lots of variations. Venkat, whose residence was in Trichy but because he worked in Chennai, he spent a lot of time at Ashwin’s home. Ashwin and Venkat became good friends. Venkat looked after Ashwin as a brother would.
https://icricketcritique.com/ashwin-and-the-opening/
https://icricketcritique.com/it-was-all-on-the-streets/
https://icricketcritique.com/the-heartbreak-and-the-elation/
https://icricketcritique.com/ashwin-and-his-early-games/