Ravichandran Ashwin - The Wizard

Basically, a street-smart cricketer hailing from Chennai, Ashwin threw himself into limelight during IPL 2010, when he finished his season with an excellent economy of 6.10 with even a good strike rate of 22.15. His journey especially at the start of his career was not as flamboyant as it looks. Even in IPL 2010, he had faced hardships of multiple kind, but that's how champions are built. He drove himself through all the obstacles and announced his arrival at the international level. Since his international debut, he has been a phenomenal performer for Team India, as well as for his respective IPL franchises. Especially when it comes to test matches, his numbers speak about his ability. Yes, he had a slightly off season with his first overseas tours, but then he turned the tides. It happens to everyone.

One important trait that Ashwin has is his cricketing brain. He is one of the few cricketing masterminds in the country. He is smart, when it comes to variations and even smarter on coaching aspects. Someone who is following his personal channel for a while, would agree with me on this. He is a perfect mentor material. The decision-making skills he has is another wonderful virtue, I have seen in him. Be it be following the batsman by bowling wide and getting him stumped, or the carrom balls, which skids through the batsman, or his natural offies, they all are lethal.

I just hope that, this COVID pandemic ends soon, so that he can fancy his chances to become India's leading wicket taker in tests. Well, that might be a long-term goal, but he has a bright chance of becoming the second fastest bowler to 400 test wickets, next only to legendary Muttiah Muralitharan.When he retires, I would want him to mentor Team India, I am pretty sure that his insights on the game would help the players in grooming their skills.

Happy Birthday RAVICHANDRAN ASHWIN.

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