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Veteran Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin recently opened up about his enduring camaraderie with MS Dhoni and the quirky guidance he has received from the esteemed wicketkeeper-batsman over the span of 15 years.
Ashwin recounted a notable exchange with Dhoni in Dubai following an IPL 2021 match between Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings. During this conversation, the Indian cricket team spinner delved into the nuances of his evolving bowling strategies, focusing notably on the refinement of his backspin delivery.
Ravichandran Ashwin reveals how MS Dhoni’s quirky advice over 15 years shaped his career.
Ashwin recounted how Dhoni had reiterated his confidence in his distinctive style and urged him to persist in adopting his creative approach during their meeting in Dubai. The star off-spinner highlighted how Dhoni’s counsel to remain loyal to his strengths and consistently hone his skills played a pivotal role in shaping his illustrious career.
Significantly, Dhoni has long been a pivotal figure for bowlers, with both Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav acknowledging the significant impact of his guidance from behind the stumps in enhancing their performances.
Ravichandran Ashwin was quoted as saying by RevzSports. “He (Dhoni) always said, ‘Your greatest strength is to try new things, to be funky. So, do not change that for anybody else.’ I met him in Dubai after a game between Delhi against CSK and I asked him, ‘How you find it? I have developed that backspin.’
He said, ‘You are always like that. It has been your strength. Remember, you continue to be funky. Remember, you continue to work on your variations’. I was like, this was what he told me 15 years ago. The man continued to see the same thing. And then like after a brief pause, he told me again, ‘you know what, I know what you are thinking but that is your strength. So, keep being funky, keep expressing yourself’.”
Ashwin delved into MS Dhoni’s profound impact on player psychology and strategic insights. He emphasized Dhoni’s exceptional knack for assessing and improving players’ mental fortitude, exemplified by Tushar Deshpande’s notable performances for CSK in the IPL. According to Ashwin, Dhoni’s influence transcends technical expertise to encompass the crucial psychological dimensions of the sport.
The veteran off-spinner underscored Dhoni’s ongoing role in bolstering players’ mental resilience, underscoring his strategic acumen in identifying and leveraging individual strengths within team dynamics.
Ashwin signed off by saying, “Maybe it is not just the cricket that he sees. He sees, more sort of a mental strength side of things, or the mental aptitude side of things. And I find that he did that with Tushar Deshpande also for CSK. So, he continues to do that. He continues to pick people who are good in certain roles and fitting them in.”
It appears that Ashwin will make a comeback to CSK for the upcoming IPL season in 2025, having recently rejoined India Cements. He is set to assume responsibility at the newly established CSK High-Performance Centre located on the outskirts of Chennai.
