Ravichandran Ashwin pays emotional homage to deceased former Tamil Nadu player, coach DJ Gokulakrishnan

The former Tamil Nadu player and coach, DJ Gokulakrishnan, suffered a heart attack and passed away on Wednesday, October 11. He played 12 years in the domestic circuit for Tamil Nadu, Assam, and Goa, before being associated with the game as a match referee and later took up coaching roles.

Gokulakrishnan served as a BCCI match referee in tournaments like the Ranji Trophy, the Vijay Hazare Trophy, and the Tamil Nadu Premier League. He later worked as an assistant coach for Tamil Nadu in two different stints. Recently, he was associated with Chennai Super Kings as a talent scout. One of CSK's iconic players, Ravichandran Ashwin, who also hails from Tamil Nadu, paid homage to Gokulakrishnan in an Instagram story.

Ravichandran Ashwin, in his Instagram story, posted a picture of Gokulakrishnan and referred to him as a 'wonderful person'. The legendary off-spinner also mentioned that he will always remember the lovely moments he spent with Gokulakrishnan during his various tours with the Tamil Nadu state team. Ashwin further stated that the Chennai-born was his first bowling coach and someone he would turn to after a bad day.

"GKS was a wonderful person and all those lovely moments we shared on tours with the TN Ranji team is something that will remain a memory with me. He was the first person I would run to when I had a bad day," Ashwin wrote on his Instagram story.

"Absolutely shocked. DJ Gokulakrishnan was my first bowling coach and that he is NO MORE makes me feel numb. He was 51. My thoughts are with JR Madanagopal and his entire family," stated the 37-year-old.

IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings released statement in honour of DJ Gokulakrishnan

The IPL franchise Chennai Super Kings (CSK) also released a statement, mourning the loss of Gokulakrishnan. The five-time IPL-winning franchise thanked him for his contributions. Many former and current Tamil Nadu cricketers also shared their heartfelt condolences for the departed soul and the bereaved family.