Early life
Ravichandran Ashwin was born on 17th September 1986 in Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, India. He showed an interest in cricket from a young age and started playing the game at the Under-19 level for Tamil Nadu. Educated initially at Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan and later at SSN College of Engineering, Ashwin balanced his academic pursuits with his growing passion for cricket.
Sports Career – Early Years
Ashwin made his maiden first-class debut for Tamil Nadu against Haryana in November 2006 during a national championship match. Displaying exceptional skills as an off-break bowler, within three years he became part of the South Zone squad in the Duleep Trophy. His big breakthrough came when he was selected to play for Chennai Super Kings, a franchisee team participating in the Indian Premier League(IPL) competition.
IPL Success
Before making his international debut, Ashwin had shown significant promise in IPL games where he gained attention due to his economical bowling rates and knack for taking key wickets. With excellent performances under his belt, Ashwin played an instrumental role in leading Chennai Super Kings to an IPL victory twice consecutively.
Rise to International Fame
Ashwin’s consistent performance significantly contributed to securing his spot on Team India’s roster for the 2010 ICC World Twenty20 championship held in West Indies. He debuted internationally on June 12, 2010, competing against Zimbabwe. In October of that same year, he made his Test Debut against West Indies; not only did he score a century but also grabbed seven wickets in what turned out to be a landmark performance.
Cementing Position
Ashwin gradually cemented himself as one of Team India’s central figures, known for his trickery with the ball and deceptive bowling technique. His distinctive approach in getting dismissals helped India win many matches, enhancing his reputation as a high-class spinner.
Awards and Recognition
Ashwin’s extraordinary performances won him several awards. He was awarded the coveted Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy by ICC in 2016 as the world’s best cricketer. Notably, he is also among only three Indian cricketers to have won the ‘ICC Cricketer of the Year’ award. Adding to his list of achievements, Ashwin became the fastest bowler to record 300 test wickets in just 54 matches.
Current Status
Today, Ravi Ashwin continues to be a core part of Team India across all formats – Tests, One-Day Internationals (ODIs), and T20s. An inspiring figure for emerging players in this age-old sport, he continues to rule the cricket arenas with his stellar performances both as a master off-spinner and an absolute game strategist.
