Ravichandran Ashwin is one of the best cricket players India has ever had. Ashwin has, through his games, conclusively established himself as one of the most smart and intelligent spin bowling in brains that the game has ever seen. As interesting the journey is, so is it as interesting as his ball tricks. Ashwin has left a cricketing world in awe as far as the legacy of contributions goes. His all-round cricketing sense has stood him in good stead over the years.
Early Life and Journey into Cricket
Ravichandran Ashwin was born on 17 September 1986, to sports-loving parents in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. His father is an amateur cricketer and entrepreneur, who played the biggest role in encouraging little Ashwin to take to cricket since a very small age. Ashwin was a keen follower of the game and started off as a fast bowler but shifted to off-spin eventually as he realized it suited him more.
Slow and incremental steps to domestic prominence came for Ashwin as good performances in representing Tamil Nadu got him promoted to the national level team. The years played domestically made him the sort of player who had his classical off-spin mixed with innovative variations.
The Breakthrough in International Cricket
Ravichandran Ashwin ‘s first game for the Indian team came in the year 2010 as he was included in an ODI series against Sri Lanka. However, it was the Test debut of West Indies in 2011, that marked the actual stage at which he would be playing international cricket and a five-wicket haul for him in that match marked arrival of a new spin prodigy.
However, it came only against Australia in 2013 Border-Gavaskar Trophy that made him a force to contend with. His ability of regularly troubling even the best batsmen and a sense of strategy in his bowling also helped him become an immediate regular in India’s Test cricket. His performances were truly phenomenal in the subcontinent, where spin has all the importance, for the leading spinner of India.
Bowling Style: Science Behind Spin
The bowling of Ravichandran Ashwin is a form of art as well as science. Technical skill to his off-spin doesn’t matter much as that makes him different from anyone else. He can play a carrom ball for dismissing the batsmen as one just needs a nod to get them packed along with the use of an “arm ball” in the end, which gets severely swayed and puzzles even the experienced cricketer.
Besides being technically brilliant, Ravichandran Ashwin is cerebral in his approach to the game. He reads the pitch and weaknesses of the batsman to craft his plan. The versatility he had to adapt to different conditions and formats-be it Test cricket, ODIs, or T20s-have made him one of the most versatile bowlers in world cricket.
Ravichandran Ashwin cricketing brain reminds one of all-time legends like Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan, but the relentless pursuit of innovation in every possible way makes him exceptional. The variations he carries in bowling and the intelligent placements in the field showcase how much his craft exceeds bowling into outsmarting the batsman at each and every step.
Major Career Achievements and Breaking Records
Ravichandran Ashwin career is rich in record-breaking performances which underwrite his dominance as a spin bowler. He is one of the fastest to reach milestones like 300 and 400 wickets in Test cricket with over 700 wickets in international cricket which includes Tests and ODIs.
Outstanding performances are in the same league, such as against South Africa in 2015 with a 7 wickets haul and five-match-winning spell in the Australia-India series of 2016. His inputs have also been crucial towards India’s win in series 2018 in Australia when he outbowled some of the most regular opponents.
Perhaps Ravichandran Ashwin greatest accolade is that he manages to succeed in all the formats. He does incredibly well in T20, where his economy often decides matters, and in Tests, where everybody knows that he leaves opposition in disarray once the turning tracks are reached.
Contributions by an All-rounder: More than just the bowler
Although Ashwin is usually a spin bowler, he was just as effective for India as an all-rounder. His batting at the right time for the lower order helps in getting partnerships in matches and hence winning them for the team. Ashwin’s career high score in Test cricket came against West Indies in 2016 at 124* and reflects that Ashwin was also a good batsman with bat in hand.
He is a match-winner for the Indian cricket team, especially on Test pitches, where, in that format, it is evident that he may bat and bowl and in all spheres of the game, there his overall playing skills find expression.
Ashwin impact on the India cricketing leadership
Ashwin is highly acclaimed for his leadership skills. He is also popular as the person who can take the younger spinners and bowlers from the domestic cricketing arenas to the international cricketing field. That is the reason he has been widely acclaimed as a mentor, and at the same time, he has contributed immensely towards the development of India’s spin attack. He had very close interactions with players like Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav.
The maturity outside the field and approach toward cricket have made Ashwin an epitome for the youngsters in that department. His sharp thinking tactically has guided India toward some great Test series wins. Among those, recent achievements against Australia and England make it worthwhile to be noted.
Controversies and Criticism
Any international-level cricketer’s career was not free of controversy for Ashwin. Aggression on the field and frank opinions had always earned criticism. The best example could be seen in the altercation with Jos Buttler during the 2019 edition of IPL, which really gave birth to discussions of what constitutes sportsmanship.
Even though such times have indeed passed, Ashwin has revealed maturity and strength regarding criticism. His game-focused being and seeing the success of his team have always remained a characteristic feature of his personality, and he goes on to win the hearts of fans through the eye-catching performances that he serves.
Legacy and Impact on Indian Cricket
Ravichandran Ashwin’s legacy is yet to be fully written, but it will surely go on for generations as the Indian cricket fraternity remembers his contribution. Not just for records but for his influence on the game itself. His journey from being a budding spinner in Chennai to one of the best bowlers in world cricket inspires the youth of the world.
And probably during the twilight phase of his career, Ashwin would be mentoring and grooming the next generation of spinners so that all the know-how and skills are channelled into building India’s cricketing future, which is an uncharted territory.
Ravichandran Ashwin is more than just a cricketing star. He is a workhorse and a hard worker combined with cricket brains. Be it his unique bowling, useful batting, or leadership quality, Ashwin’s journey has been the changed face of Indian cricket. The contribution he gave to Indian cricket is the best and will always remain so.
As the cricketing world keeps on changing, one thing stands out for sure: Ravichandran Ashwin will be remembered as the best spinner to have graced the game.
