Tag: Ravichandran Ashwin

Early Life & Background

Ravichandran Ashwin was born on September 17, 1986, in Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, into a cricket-loving family. His father, Ravichandran, played club-level cricket as a medium-pace bowler and introduced Ashwin to the sport at a young age. Ashwin attended Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan and later St. Bede’s School, both in Chennai. He graduated with a BTech in Information Technology from SSN College of Engineering, Chennai.

Initially, Ashwin was an opening batsman and medium pacer. However, he switched to off-spin bowling on the advice of his coach, C K Vijaya Kumar, to enhance his chances of entering the senior team. He was later coached by former spinner Sunil Subramaniam and mentored by former cricketer W V Raman.

Personal Traits & Lifestyle

Ashwin is known for his analytical mind, deep understanding of the game, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. He is often described as a “cricket geek” due to his obsession with the craft of spin bowling and his constant quest to evolve his techniques. Ashwin’s personality aligns closely with the characteristics of an Enneagram Type 1, as evidenced by his drive for perfection, strong moral compass, and commitment to continuous personal growth.

Off the field, Ashwin maintains a disciplined lifestyle, focusing on fitness and mental conditioning. He is also known for his active presence on social media, where he shares insights into his personal life and thoughts on various topics. Despite his success, he remains grounded and is deeply involved in various charitable activities.

Personal Life

Ashwin married his childhood friend, Prithi Narayanan, on November 13, 2011, in a traditional Tamil ceremony. The couple has two daughters, Akhira and Aadhya. Prithi is known for her warm personality and has been a constant support throughout Ashwin’s cricketing journey. The couple’s love story began in school, and they have been together ever since.

Youth & Domestic Career

Ashwin debuted for Tamil Nadu in 2007 in first-class cricket. He impressed with 41 wickets in his debut season. Consequently, he was selected for the India A team in 2008.

He also played in the Ranji Trophy, consistently taking wickets each season. Furthermore, he scored useful runs as a lower-order batter. His domestic success showcased both his bowling and batting skills.

International Career

Debut Milestones

• Test debut: 13 November 2011 vs West Indies

• T20I debut: 29 August 2010 vs Zimbabwe

• ODI debut: 5 June 2010 vs Sri Lanka

Ashwin took wickets in all formats early on. Shortly after his Test debut, he claimed 5 wickets in both innings vs West Indies. Thus, he became only the third bowler for India to claim a match-fifer on Test debut.

Records & Milestones

• Fastest Indian to 100 Test wickets (18 matches)

• Most Test wickets by an Indian in 2015 (52 wickets)

• First Asian to take 300 Test wickets

IPL & Franchise Leagues

Ashwin captained Rajasthan Royals from 2019 to 2021. Under his leadership, the Royals won key matches. He also performed well with ball and bat. Later, he joined Gujarat Titans in 2022. The Titans won IPL in their debut season. Furthermore, he played for Tamil Nadu Premier League and County Cricket.

IPL Stats (as of IPL 2025)