MS Dhoni saw that streak in me early on, for both CSK and India: Ravi Ashwin

Ravi Ashwin, the veteran Indian spinner, has heaped praises on MS Dhoni, saying that the latter motivated him to try out new things. Ashwin started taking strides at the big stage while playing under Dhoni for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). In 2009, the Tamil Nadu cricketer played his first IPL match and from there he has own grown in stature.

Ashwin is someone, who comes up with new variations from time to time. From changing run-ups to adding leg-spin to his armoury, Ashwin has been extremely innovative. The tweaker made his ODI debut in 2010 and in the first 10 games, he never went wicketless, giving a glimpse of his stupendous potential.

Ashwin said that Dhoni once told that his versatility is his biggest strength. Apart from the Super Kings, Dhoni and Ashwin have also played together for the Rising Pune Supergiant in 2016 and 2017.

Ravi Ashwin lauds Dhoni  

“This is a story a lot of people might not associate with MS Dhoni but I’d like to bring this to the surface. Many a times, when people question MS Dhoni about how he does it, he talks about process and doesn’t divulge a lot of his secrets.

“But the one person that has encouraged me day-in day-out in terms of trying new things is MS Dhoni,”  Ashwin was quoted as saying during a live chat with Sportskeeda.

“He saw that streak in me early on, for both CSK and India. People always say that I try too much and experiment too much. I’ve also questioned myself and MS Dhoni has constantly told me that my biggest strength is that I can bowl anything. He said that at the end of the day, I’m bloody good at what I do,” he added.

Ashwin has tasted success in all three formats, especially Test cricket. In the longer version, he has 365 wickets from 71 matches with 27 five-wicket hauls to show for his efforts. In the ODI and T20I teams, he lost his place in 2017 after the emergence of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal. The 33-year-old also has successfully plied his trade in county cricket in England.