Ravichandran Ashwin Blog

CSK Players Relaxing in Swimming Pool After Their Win over RCB

2012-04-23T05:22:00.003-07:00

[PICS] Ravichandran Ashwin on Test cricket debut vs West Indies, 1st test, Delhi 2011

2011-11-06T04:05:00.000-08:00

West Indies batsman Darren Bravo is bowled by Indian bowler Ravichandran Ashwin, not seen, watched by Indian wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and fielder Rahul Dravid on the first day of the first of three test matches between India and West Indies in New Delhi, India, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011.

Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin (L) celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of West Indies cricketer Darren Sammy on the first day of the first Test match at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in New Delhi on November 6, 2011. Pragyan Ojha grabbed two quick wickets as India reduced the West Indies to 69-2 at lunch on the opening day of the Test match series.

Ravichandran Ashwin (L) and team captain Mahendra Singh Dhonicelebrate the dismissal of West Indies' Darren Bravo during the first day of their first test cricket match in New Delhi November 6, 2011.

Indian players, from left, Gautam Gambhir,Ravichandran Ashwin, Rahul Dravid, V.V.S. Laxmanand Mahendra Singh Dhoni celebrate as Ashwin castles Darren Bravo, right, on the first day of the first of three test matches between India and West Indies in New Delhi, India, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011.

Ravichandran Ashwin (L) celebrates with his teammates after dismissing West Indies Darren Bravoduring the first day of their first test cricket match inNew Delhi November 6, 2011.

West Indies Darren Bravo reacts as he leaves the field after his dismissal by India's Ravichandran Ashwinduring the first day of their first test cricket match inNew Delhi November 6, 2011.

Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni jumps up to celebrate as he takes a catch of West Indies batsmanMarlon Samuels, right, off the bowling of Ravichandran Ashwin, not in photo, on the first day of the first of three test matches between India and West Indies inNew Delhi, India, Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011.

Indian cricketers Pragyan Ojha (L) and Ravichandran Ashwin (R) walk back at the end of the first day's play of the first Test match at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in New Delhi on November 6, 2011. Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha bagged two wickets in the first session and debutant off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin one in the second to reduce the West Indies to 72-3 before Brathwaite and Chanderpaul added 87 runs.

Ravichandran Ashwin pumps his fist after dismissing Marlon Samuels, India v West Indies, 1st Test, New Delhi, 1st day

Ravichandran Ashwin in Test squad, Harbhajan dropped

2011-10-29T00:52:00.000-07:00

The Indian selectors Friday inducted young off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and picked several youngsters in the squad while seasoned pro Harbhajan Singh would have to sit out the first cricket Test against West Indies at Feroze Shah Kotla, Delhi, from Nov 6.

Fit again Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh and Ishant Sharma are also in the 15-member squad announced by Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary Sanjay Jagdale after a meeting of the senior selection committee here.

Selection committee sources said skipper Dhoni was given the option of opting out of the Test to rest his tired muscles, but the wicketkeeper-batsman said he could carry on.

Suresh Raina has got the axe because of his poor Test form while opening bat Ajinkya Rahane, pacers Varun Aaron and Umesh Yadav and spinner Rahul Sharma get their maiden Test call up. Sharma's inclusion was suprising, considering his ordinary performance in the domestic season.

Batsman Virat Kohli, who came up with a superb performance notching up 270 runs in the ODI series opposite England, gets another opportunity to prove his mettle at the Test level after failing to shine in the longer version of the game in the Caribbeans June-July.

The committee chaired by Krishnamachari Srikkanth, preferred Ashwin over the experienced Harbhajan Singh as a reward for the youngster's impressive performance in the just-concluded ODI series opposite England. Ashwin took ten scalps, one less than highest wicket taker Ravindra Jadeja in the five-match series.
Harbhajan had come up with an ordinary performance in the two Tests he played in England before returning home following an abdominal muscle injury. The 31-year-old Punjab bowler missed out on the home ODI series versus England where India whitewashed the visitors 5-0

Praveen Kumar, who put up a fine performance in the West Indies and England, did not find a place in the squad, but selection panel sources said he was being kept fresh in view of the coming Australia tour.

Following is the squad: M S Dhoni (captain), Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, V.V.S. Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, R. Ashwin, Pragyan Ojha, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Virat Kohli, Varun Aaron, Ajinkya Rahane and Rahul Sharma.

Source

Donning a new role - Ravichandran Ashwin

2011-10-10T03:43:00.000-07:00

Off-spinner R Ashwin will have the added responsibilty of being the lead tweaker in the ODIs against England

For the first time since his international debut in June last year, Ravichandran Ashwin will go into a limited-overs series as India’s lead spinner in his own right when the five-match showdown against England begins in a few days’ time.

The 25-year-old from Tamil Nadu, who has had to play second fiddle to Harbhajan Singh, has been preferred to the senior off-spinner this time around. A qualified engineer, the ‘spinner who thrives under pressure’ tells Deccan Herald in this free-wheeling conversation that he is happy with whatever role he is entrusted with. Excerpts:

Lead spinner for India for the first time – does it make you nervous, or more pumped up?

I don’t think things are going to be any different. I am going to do the same things I did when I was the second spinner. In the past, I never thought of myself as a support spinner. I always did what I knew best. I have not kept anyone out of the side, I have nothing to do with who is there and who is not there. Obviously, I have played alongside Harbhajan and he is a class act. I have seen how he goes about his business. I have learnt a thing or two along the way. I will try and put everything into practice, and try and see that India wins. That is the first priority — winning again.

You are known as a ‘Power Play’ bowler. How does one reconcile to the fact that it’s a role that can invite punishment?

Accepting the fact that you can get hit is the most important aspect of bowling in Power Plays. Having said that, when you are playing as the main spinner, the chances of you bowling in the Power Plays are lesser. You just come into the act when the batting Power Play is on, bowl a couple of overs.

The roles are different. I enjoyed the role in England, I bowled more in the middle overs, it was much more enjoyable because you can be more attacking in your own right. Both roles are very different. In Power Plays, you can get away with a few bad balls because you have to try and curtail runs, which means you will have to bowl a few dot balls. But bowling in the middle overs is a completely different scenario.

To come to terms with copping punishment is very tough. You will get affected; if you don’t get affected, then there is something seriously wrong with your psyche! Knowing what has gone wrong, trying to digest it, to take it forward and not repeat what you have done – that’s the key. You can’t keep brooding over it.

Is that mindset a natural gift, or can it be acquired?

It has to be developed if you have to play cricket at this level. It needs to be there naturally, otherwise you have to try and learn it. It has been a part of the learning curve for me, I have learnt quite a lot after having been hit, after having had a few bad games. Bad games are bound to be there if you are a bowler, basically. This is a game made for batsmen in a lot of aspects. You have to learn from your mistakes, know what’s going wrong. I think we make the error of not trying to find out what’s gone wrong. As a bowler in limited-overs cricket, you are playing mind games with the batter. It helps if you can hold your ground and think on your feet.

Does your educational background help you at all as a bowler?

It definitely does, especially in terms of angles. I have a fair idea of where I can get hit, of assessing where the batsman is very good at and where you are prepared to get hit. For me, I don’t analyse from the feet of someone who is not as educated as me. Maybe if I do, then I can know where I have an edge, But more than that, as far as I am concerned, if I think I can help out anyone else, I go and tell him.
If you are a bowler, your ten overs can count for some pressure but it’s only if you do well as a bowling unit can you get positive results. As far as I am concerned, you are only as good a bowler as your bowling unit is.

Early in your career, you spent a lot of time on the bench. How did you keep yourself positive and motivated?
I have answered my parents, my own inner conscience, with honesty. Some people used to say I should have been playing, others said I had to bide my time. It’s very easy to get carried away by all this but the one very big advantage I had was that I was sitting with an international team for quite a long time. I learnt a lot in the process not just in terms of practical knowledge, but in terms of visual knowledge also. There was a big transformation in me when I came back to Chennai after a tour of Zimbabwe and the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka.

I had bowled a lot in the nets, which meant I experimented more and more and I had a lot of ideas, a lot of vision. I changed a lot in my bowling which helped me tweak things around. These things are a gift in a nicely wrapped parcel. I don’t know how many people get it but I did. And I thought about it in a positive way, which definitely helped me.

How desperate are you to play Test cricket?

Honestly, not desperate at all. I am not even thinking about it. If it has to happen, so be it. But it is a definite dream for anybody to get a Test cap and bowl in a Test match. Test cricket is a game of cat and mouse. But selection to the Test squad is not in my hands, and I would like to control what is in my hands.

What do you make of new balls at either end in 50-over cricket?

Unless things unfold, you won’t really know, will you? But when there are two new balls, the chances of the ball swinging for longer are more, which means the fast bowlers have a greater chance of picking up early wickets, which in turn means the spinner has a greater chance of attacking. There’s nothing to complain about. I always maintain that the white ball, especially when it is hard, does more in Indian conditions. It’s a blessing, the seam is pronounced.

Do you feel there is score to settle against England after what happened when India went there earlier this year?

The personal mindset is basically to first of all see how they are going to play in Indian conditions. I know how they played in England and how it was to bowl to them in England. It wasn’t very tough, to be very honest. It was quite an okay job, I enjoyed it. The ball was hanging a fair bit, and I had to come up with a strategy to keep it in the air for a longer time. In India, it is going to be a lot more different. Obviously, people cannot just slog at you across the line, it is not going to be all that easy. To get your runs consistently, you need to play proper cricket shots. I’d love to see how they react to these conditions.

Ravichandran Ashwin celebrates his wicket | CSK - IPL

2011-07-30T16:42:00.000-07:00

Ravichandran Ashwin Caricature by DNA

2011-07-30T16:40:00.000-07:00

Source: DNA

Wallpapers - Ravichandran Ashwin

2011-07-30T16:36:00.000-07:00

[Caricature] Ravichandran Ashwin

2011-07-30T16:34:00.000-07:00

Ravichandran Ashwin Caricature

Source: Mahendra Desai

[Pic] Ravichandran Ashwin throws a ball during a training session

2011-07-30T16:30:00.000-07:00

Ravichandran Ashwin throws a ball during a training session in Mumbai, India, on April 1, 2011.

[Pic] R. Ashwin, Bhajji and Dhoni relax

2011-07-30T16:28:00.001-07:00

[PICS] Ravichandran Ashwin at his home

2011-07-26T22:09:00.000-07:00

India has won eight of the 11 ODIs Ashwin has played in. He is now awaiting his Test debut.

Pics Source: The Hindu

Prince of spin - Ravichandran Ashwin

2011-07-26T22:05:00.000-07:00

R. Ashwin, India's newest cricket sensation talks about the World Cup win, his inspiration and hobbies

When Ravichandran Ashwin gives me directions to his house, I ask for the nearest landmark. Little did I realise that his house is now a landmark in itself. A member of India's World Cup winning squad and instrumental in Chennai Super Kings' continuing dominance of the Indian Premier League, Ashwin is today a star. Everybody in the neighbourhood knows where exactly their hero lives. I just have to ask “Ashwin's house?” and people are more than happy to guide me, but not before enquiring with a gleam in their eyes whether I'm actually scheduled to meet the talented off-spinner.

His living room is occupied almost entirely by cricket paraphernalia. On display are stumps signed by the team, books, innumerable trophies and photographs of Ashwin with various cricketers. Of course, now there's also a large framed picture of the victorious champagne-soaked World Cup side from that memorable evening in Mumbai.

“The fact that this win will go down in history makes me cherish it,” says Ashwin, revealing that one of his most treasured moments with the squad came during the quarterfinal between India and Australia. “We were five wickets down. Everybody was huddled together in the dressing room and we were tense. Sachin (Tendulkar) was pacing up and down, trying to motivate us. I realised then what a close-knit team we were and that's when we knew we would win the Cup,” he narrates.

Ashwin, 24, has been playing cricket since he was eight. He opened the batting as well as bowling for his school (PSBB, K.K. Nagar) for its under-10 and under-12 teams, before switching over to St. Bede's. “I wanted to play all the time. In school I was an opening batsman and scored a lot of runs. School performances mattered a lot then. Vijay Kumar, my coach at St. Bede's, told me that I'd definitely play for India as an off-spinner,” he recalls.

Although managing competitive cricket and academics simultaneously is always tough, Ashwin didn't want to quit studying. The balancing act, especially when he enrolled himself in an engineering course, required a lot of effort. But constant success in the league and domestic circuit brought him to the attention of the national selectors. This resulted in the realisation of his dream to represent the country.

“I was picked for the T20 against Sri Lanka and right from then till now I have been in the team for every ODI. But the first match that I actually got to play in was an ODI against Sri Lanka in June 2010; till then I was just touring with the team.” Being part of the Indian team, he says, has been his greatest success yet. “When I got my Indian Team jersey, I wore it and took a couple of pictures in it,” he smiles, adding that he is lucky to be getting paid to do what he loves most.

Ashwin's first ODI didn't quite have a fairytale ending (India lost to Sri Lanka by six wickets). However he has been a lucky presence in the matches he has played so far. “Of the 11 ODIs I have played in, we have lost only three, while we won all the T20's I've played in.” With a rather impressive report card in the two versions of the game, what remains now is a Test debut, which he believes is the “king” of all forms of cricket. “Playing a test will be a dream come true. But I am not in a hurry. Results take care of themselves as long as you are honest about what you do. I am constantly trying to innovate and improve. I also love experimenting with my game.”

That apparently is not all he experiments with. “I also like trying out different hair styles…and experimenting with jeans – various styles and fits.” The towering bowler has a growing collection of printed T-shirts and flip flops. Each overseas tour sees him adding to his collection of shades and watches with fancy dials and funky bands. His other fascination is cars. “Jaguar and Audi are my dream cars.”

As the interview proceeds, I notice Ashwin is quite chatty and his sentences are often punctuated with a bright smile, unlike the serious, ‘angry young man' persona he brandishes on the field. “I am focussed on the game and maybe that's why people get this impression of me being stern. But actually I am told I have a decent sense of humour.” Ashwin shares a great rapport with Murali Vijay, Balaji, Badrinath and Ganapathi and they have a good time pulling each others legs. Talking of favourite cricketers he says he looks up to Anil Kumble and admires the fact that he stuck to basics and has rigid work ethics. Another favourite is Yuvraj Singh. “He has been though ups and downs but is back with a bang.”

So what does he do when he's not tormenting batsmen with the carrom ball? “I play tennis, I am on the PSP with my neighbourhood kids, I go on long drives… I am a foodie and Indian food tops my list. I like the new Amethyst, The Pasta Bar Veneto. But nothing beats watching movies at Sathyam with a tub of popcorn.”

Ashwin is currently employed with India Cements and his future plan is to become an entrepreneur and start an enterprise related to cricket. Until then, fulfilling the promise of being India's most valued spin bowler should keep him suitably occupied.

Source: The Hindu

Ravichandran Ashwin bowls for cancer awareness at Chennai

2011-07-26T21:59:00.000-07:00

India’s cricket crazy populace might be far more accustomed to seeing Ravichandran Ashwin dishing up the doosra on the cricket field, but participants at a cancer awareness programme were bowled over by a verbal doosra that the young spinner tossed out at them. “If you know you’re a habitual smoker and that there’s a high risk of you being affected by cancer, why is it such a problem to come and have yourself checked?” he said and added, “I have to admit I did not know much about cancer till I heard these survivors recount their experiences.” Ashwin inaugurated a cancer awareness programme and free screening camp conducted by the Paterson Cancer Centre, at the Vijaya Health Centre yesterday morning. This initiative also coincides with the centre’s eighth anniversary celebration.

The psychological fear of what they might discover in a medical check-up prevents many from actually getting medical assistance early.

Ashwin recounted how his father, a former cricketer himself, has that mental block against health check-ups.

“Despite being a diabetic, my father is extremely stubborn and refuses to go for periodic health checks unless he is forced to do so,” he said.

“So I understand how scared most of you might be feeling at this point in time. But I assure you, whatever it is you may discover, it’s better that you know about it than stay ignorant.” Oncology experts also affirmed that a high number of ‘advanced stage’ cases they encountered was because the patients were reluctant and scared to get an early medical opinion.
Four ‘cancer ambassadors’ who had been cured of the dreaded disease delivered brief messages on their fight with cancer and emphasised how it is curable and preventable, in this day and age. K Sundarrajan, one of the better informed ambassadors even emphasised that checking the internet for a cure or easy fix had to be avoided and consulting the ‘right doctor’ was the only way.
During his interaction, Ashwin reflected on his personal experience with internet cures, “Being an only child, my mother fusses over me even if I have a minor ailment.

But in recent times, she goes online and checks the internet for cures for my symptoms and immediately follows it.” A practice that he will use with caution, he assured.

Ashwin, who towered above everyone else on stage, proclaimed that he “did not have a single negative cell in his body” and pledged that he would support the cause of cancer awareness in whatever way possible.
The camp is being conducted free of charge. It entails a comprehensive cancer screening process that includes an ultrasound, chest X-ray, besides the standard blood and urine workup. It will continue till July 20.

[Photo] Ravichandran Ashwin cools himself in front of a vaporizer

2011-07-04T03:58:00.001-07:00

Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin cools himself in front of a vaporizer during a practice session ahead of the World Cup Cricket Group B with Kenya in Chennai, India, Wednesday, March 16, 2011.

Karunanidhi felicitates Ravichandran Ashwin after World Cup 2011 win

2011-07-02T05:09:00.000-07:00

Chief Minister M Karunanidhi felicitates the member of World Cup winning team, Ravichandran Ashwin during a felicitation ceremony in Chennai on May 05, 2011.The Tamil Nadu government awarded a some of Rs 3 crore to the Indian team for winning the World Cup 2011. (5 May, 2011)

Source: Indiatimes

[PHOTO] Ravichandran Ashwin, Vijay & Raina with IPL 2011 Trophy

2011-07-01T22:19:00.000-07:00

Chennai Super Kings owner Mr Gurunath Meiyappan (left) poses with the trophy along with Murali Vijay, Ravichandran Ashwin and Suresh Raina.

Source: CSK

Ravichandran Ashwin felicitated at SSN College of Engineering

2011-06-30T22:22:00.000-07:00

Proud moment: World Cup winner Ravichandran Ashwin being felicitated by his alma mater SSN College of Engineering

Ravichandran Ashwin belongs to a select breed of cricketers who also happen to be engineers by education. Being an off-spinner from Chennai and also an engineering graduate has often led to comparisons with former India captain Srinivas Venkataraghavan, and Ashwin went some way in justifying such high praise by being a part of the Indian team that claimed the ICC World Cup this April.

On Tuesday, Ashwin's alma mater, SSN College of Engineering, felicitated the cricketer on his achievement, presenting with a memento while the chairman of HCL Corporation and founder of SSN, Shiv Nadar felicitated Ashwin through teleconferencing.

Accepting the honour, Ashwin said that he was deeply touched by the gesture and while the honour meant a lot, being felicitated by his own college amidst an audience of college mates, Ashwin said, was ‘a proud moment.'

Published: May 1, 2011 00:00 IST | Source: Hindu

[Video] Ravichandran Ashwin speaks about his bowling tactics after CSK's IPL 2011 win

2011-06-30T02:57:00.000-07:00

Ravichandran Ashwin speaks about his bowling tactics after Csk's IPL 2011 win [Video]

[Photo] Ravichandran Ashwin shows his World Cup 2011 medal to parents & grandfather

2011-06-29T08:30:00.000-07:00

Ravichandran Ashwin, a member of World Cup winning Indian team, showing his medal to his grandfather and parents at their residence in Chennai

[Video] Ravichandran Ashwin & Murali Vijay share the joy of winning IPL 2011

2011-06-29T05:21:00.000-07:00

Chennai Super Kings won the second IPL in a row after they defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore. Murali Vijay and Ravichandran Ashwin expressed their thoughts after IPL 2011 Victory.

[VIDEO] Ravichandran Ashwin vs Vijay Mallya - IPL 2011 Auctions - CSK vs RCB

2011-06-28T04:07:00.000-07:00

[VIDEO] Ravichandran Ashwin vs Vijay Mallya - IPL 2011 Auctions - CSK vs RCB

The mistake Vijay Mallya did in the IPL 2011 Auctions proved costly for him at the end.

[VIDEO] Ravichandran Ashwin gets hit on head by Saurabh Tiwary - CSK vs RCB - IPL 2011

2011-06-28T03:47:00.000-07:00

[VIDEO] Ravichandran Ashwin gets hit on head by Saurabh Tiwary - CSK vs RCB - IPL 2011

[Photo] Ravichandran Ashwin plays soccer as teammate Virat Kohli watches

2011-06-25T00:17:00.000-07:00

Ravichandran Ashwin (R) plays soccer as teammate Virat Kohli watches during a cricket practice session in Vadodara December 3, 2010. India will play their third one-day international cricket match against New Zealand in Vadodara on Saturday.

[Photo] Ravichandran Ashwin lets a catch slip

2011-06-25T00:14:00.000-07:00

India's Ravichandran Ashwin lets a catch slip during the second one day international cricket match against New Zealand in Jaipur, India, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010.

[Photo] Bhajji, Piyush & Ravichandran Ashwin at St George's Park, in Port Elizabeth

2011-06-25T00:09:00.000-07:00

Indian bowler's Harbhajan Singh (R), Piyush Chawla (C) and Ravichandran Ashwin look on during a training session on the eve of their fourth One Day International (ODI) between India and South Africa at St George's Park, in Port Elizabeth on January 20, 2011.