Ravichandran Ashwin In CSK's Jersey (Source: @ShuhidAufridi/x.com)
In India, where cricket and cricketers are celebrated grandly, fans not only admire their on-field presence they also get inspired even their lives beyond cricket. Beyond their brilliance with the bat and ball, many stars shine in academics too, inspiring a generation to balance passion with education.
Ravichandran Ashwin is one of those players who has created a legacy with the ball, and the cricket world always hailed his sharp cricketing brain. But behind the on-field genius lies an engineering graduate who once had a lucrative MNC job offer on the table, one he boldly declined to chase his true passion, cricket.
Ashwin Ditches A Promising MNC Career To Chase Cricket Glory
In India, where cricket is a religion, whenever it comes a kid wants to play cricket, parents often come with the advice of following studies first, as the dream of cricket can come wait. Balancing both is no easy feat, yet Ravichandran Ashwin proved it’s possible, excelling with the ball on the field while mastering academics off it, showing the world that passion and discipline can go hand in hand.
Hailing from Chennai, Ravichandran Ashwin studied Engineering from SSN College of Engineering. On the other hand, he delivered an outstanding performance in domestic cricket. His magical spells on the field soon caught the eye of the Chennai Super Kings, and joining the franchise became a dream come true for Ashwin and his family.
But the first IPL contract came with a potential sacrifice in Ashwin’s story. That year, he was also set to complete his engineering degree and had secured a prestigious placement with Cognizant Technology Solutions. At just 22, the young spinner found himself at a crossroads, an IPL contract in one hand and a lucrative MNC offer in the other.
As both can’t go parallel, Ashwin needed to pick one, and he chose to follow his cricket passion. He let to Cognizant’s offer and joined the Chennai Super Kings to kick-start his cricket career on high. His decision became a shining example of courage, inspiring many to follow their hearts over conventional paths.
Ashwin started the journey with the Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2009, quickly earning a reputation as the team’s mystery spinner, feared by batsmen across the league. In the IPL 2011, he had the best IPL season of his career, securing 20 wickets in 16 matches. After leaving CSK in 2015, he made a memorable return to the franchise, playing the final IPL season of his illustrious career, where it all began.
A Legendary Career That Inspires Generations
From the grassroots of Chennai’s suburbs to the glittering lights of the IPL, Ravichandran Ashwin’s journey was fueled by sacrifice and sheer determination. Stepping onto the international stage, the young off-spinner quickly cemented his place, becoming one of the most iconic spinners in the history of the game.
The Carrom ball star of India played 106 Tests and secured 537 wickets with 37 fifers and eight 4-wicket hauls. In the 50 Over format, he secured 156 wickets in 116 games. He’s the only player in history to score more than five Test hundreds while claiming over 500 wickets. In 2019, Ashwin became the joint-fastest to 350 Test wickets, matching the legendary Muttiah Muralitharan in just 66 matches.
With a razor-sharp cricketing mind and masterful control over his off-spin, Ashwin became the backbone of India’s bowling attack after legends like Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh retired. As he steps away from the game, Team India bids farewell to a true icon whose impact will be felt for generations.
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