R Ashwin thanked MS Dhoni for helping him grow into one of the world’s best spinners. Ashwin started making a mark in top-level cricket while playing for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Although he was a part of the CSK team in the inaugural IPL edition, he did not get a chance to play. However, he got the chance to rub shoulders with the likes of Dhoni, Muttiah Muralitharan and Matthew Hayden.
It was in 2009 when Ashwin made his IPL debut against the Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Newlands in Cape Town. The veteran tweaker, who recently reached the landmark of 500 Test wickets, said that he would forever be “indebted” to Dhoni.
Ashwin spoke about CSK and Dhoni after the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) felicitated him for his achievements during a grand ceremony.
“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,” Ashwin said during the event.
”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.
R Ashwin racking up milestones
Ashwin had a memorable time when India played against England in the 5-match Test series. Starting with, he became India’s top Test wicket-taker against the Three Lions after going past the legendary Bhagwath Chandrasekhar.
Thereafter, he reached the landmark of 100 Test wickets in Tests between the 2 teams. Ashwin, in the meantime, became the second-fastest to the milestone of 500 wickets in Tests.
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