Former India wicketkeeper MS Dhoni has left a massive impact on the game with his leadership. He is the only skipper in the history of cricket to have won all three ICC white-ball trophies – 2007 World T20, 2011 Cricket World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy.
Under Dhoni’s captaincy, the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, R Ashwin among others unleased their potential at the highest level and went on to establish themselves as the superstars of Indian cricket.
On Saturday (March 16), veteran off-spinner Ashwin reflected on the trust and belief shown in him by Dhoni all those years ago.
During a felicitation ceremony organized by the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) to celebrate his achievements of 500 wickets and a century of Tests, Ashwin recalled how handing him the new ball in the IPL 2011 final against Chris Gayle changed his career.
"I don't generally search for words to express how I feel. I am truly humbled and grateful to be here," said Ashwin, who was awarded Rs 1 crore by TNCA for his remarkable feats.
Giving credit to his first IPL skipper Dhoni, Ashwin said: "In 2008 I met all the greats (in CSK dressing room) Mathew Hayden and MS Dhoni. I sat through (IPL) 2008. I was a nobody then, where am I to play in a team that had Muttiah Muralitharan.”
"I am indebted to Dhoni for the rest of my life for what he gave me. He gave me an opportunity with the new ball to go head on with Chris Gayle and 17 years later Anil bhai would be talking about the same episode," he added.
Widely regarded as one of the smartest cricket brains, Ashwin has constantly reinvented himself, resulting in him taking lots of wickets in the longest format.
"Anil bhai and Rahul (Dravid) bhai briefly mentioned that. It is very tough to win an argument with me. It is true because I believe argument is one of the greatest pathways to excellence. Argument is never with the person. It is always with the true learning that comes at the end of it," he said as Kumble watched on from the stage.
Ashwin also thanked a number of Tamil Nadu greats, who were present at the gathering, including his first First-Class captain S Badrinath and former batter S Sharath, who is now an India selector.
"A lot of people spoke about how I tormented left-handers day in and day out. My first tryst with left handers, Mr S Sharath is sitting in the front. Someone told me if you are that good an off-spinner try and get this man out.
"I did get him out once, caught at slip and I played several more games with Sharath, he never got out to me again. That's the quality of the batter he was. I bowled to him a lot and hence became a far better bowler to the left-handers.
Such is Ashwin's commitment to TN and club cricket that he still makes himself available for domestic events when not on national duty.
"This place has given me so much that I want to keep coming back here. People keep asking why do you want to go back. Tomorrow, I might not be alive but my soul will be hanging around this place. This is what this places means to me," Ashwin remarked.
(With PTI inputs)
