Ravichandran Ashwin, born on September 17, 1986, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, is a distinguished Indian cricketer renowned for his exceptional off-spin bowling and valuable contributions as a lower-order batsman. Standing at 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm), Ashwin has been a pivotal figure in Indian cricket, particularly in Test matches.
Early Life and Education
Ashwin hails from a Tamil-Brahmin family with a sports background; his father, Ravichandran, was a club-level fast bowler. He completed his schooling at Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan and St. Bede’s School in Chennai, where he began his cricketing journey. Ashwin graduated with a BTech in Information Technology from SSN College of Engineering, Chennai. Initially starting as an opening batsman, he transitioned to off-spin bowling on the advice of his coaches, a decision that significantly shaped his career.
Domestic and IPL Career
Ashwin made his first-class debut for Tamil Nadu in December 2006. His impressive performances in domestic cricket led to his selection by the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2009. He played a crucial role in CSK’s back-to-back IPL titles in 2010 and 2011, and their Champions League Twenty20 victories in 2010 and 2014. Over the years, Ashwin has also represented other IPL franchises, including Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), Delhi Capitals, and Rajasthan Royals.
International Career
Ashwin’s international debut came in June 2010 in an ODI against Sri Lanka. He made his Test debut in November 2011 against the West Indies, becoming the seventh Indian bowler to take a five-wicket haul on debut. Known for his variations and tactical acumen, Ashwin became the fastest bowler to reach 300 Test wickets in terms of innings. As of September 2024, he has taken over 500 Test wickets and is one of only three players to have scored 3,000 runs and taken 500 wickets in Tests. His contributions have been instrumental in India’s successes across all formats.
ODI Debut: June 2010 against Sri Lanka.
Test Debut: November 2011 against the West Indies.
Milestones
Test Cricket Milestones
- Test Debut: November 6, 2011, against West Indies in Delhi.
- Fastest to 300 Wickets: Achieved in just 54 matches, surpassing Dennis Lillee’s record.
- 500 Test Wickets: Joined the elite club in February 2023, becoming the second-fastest to the milestone.
- 5-Wicket Hauls: Over 35 five-wicket hauls, among the highest in Test history.
- All-Round Achievements: Over 3,000 Test runs alongside 500 wickets, joining the ranks of Kapil Dev and Ian Botham.
- Man of the Series Awards: Holds the record for the most Player of the Series awards in Test cricket for India (9 times).
ODI and T20I Milestones
- ODI Debut: June 5, 2010, against Sri Lanka.
- Key Role in 2011 World Cup: Contributed to crucial performances, including in the knockout stages.
- T20I Milestones: Played a pivotal role in India’s campaigns in T20 World Cups, especially in 2014 and 2016.
- Wickets in Limited-Overs Cricket: Over 150 wickets in ODIs and T20Is combined.
Indian Premier League (IPL) Milestones
- IPL Debut: 2009 for Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
- CSK Success: Integral to CSK’s title victories in 2010 and 2011.
- IPL Bowling Records: Over 150 wickets in IPL history.
- First Player to Mankad in IPL: Successfully executed the controversial dismissal during IPL 2019.
Achievements and Awards
Throughout his career, Ashwin has received numerous accolades, including:
- ICC Cricketer of the Year: 2016
- ICC Test Cricketer of the Year: 2016
- Arjuna Award: 2015
He has been named in the ICC Men’s Test Team of the Year multiple times and was included in the ICC Men’s Test Team of the Decade for 2011–2020.
Personal Life
Ashwin married his childhood friend, Prithi Narayanan, on November 13, 2011. The couple has two daughters. Beyond cricket, Ashwin is known for his intellectual approach to the game and keen interest in reading and analyzing various aspects of cricket.
Retirement
On December 18, 2024, while touring Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Ashwin announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket, concluding a remarkable chapter in Indian cricket history.
Ravichandran Ashwin announces his retirement from all forms of international cricket.
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 18, 2024
Congratulations on a brilliant career 👏 pic.twitter.com/UHWAFmMwC0
Fact File
Second highest wicket take for India (537 wickets), seventh highest overall
* 37 five-wicket hauls, the joint second most with Shane Warne and only behind Muttiah Muralitharan (67)
* Dismissed most left-handers in Test cricket (268)
* Joint most POTS awards (11) alongside Muttiah Muralitharan
* Best SR for a spinner in Tests with a minimum of 200 wickets (50.7)
* Four times he has scored a century and picked up a five-wicket haul in a Test, second most behind Ian Botham’s five
