Ravichandran Ashwin's IPL Journey: From Debut to Retirement

Ravichandran Ashwin, the former spin great, recently shared insights into his remarkable IPL career that began and ended at Cheai Super Kings. Ashwin made his first IPL appearance during the second season of the tournament, which took place in South Africa.

MS Dhoni's Influence and Ashwin's Rise

Ashwin revealed how MS Dhoni, the captain of CSK, took notice of him and played a pivotal role in his journey. Despite being part of the squad since the inaugural season in 2008, Ashwin struggled to find opportunities due to the presence of legendary spier Muttiah Muralitharan.

Reflecting on his early days, Ashwin shared, "I didn't play in 2008, but in 2009, I got my first game in Cape Town against Mumbai Indians, facing Sachin Tendulkar. Though opportunities were limited initially, my role in the team grew significantly from 2010 onwards."

Memorable Encounter with Dhoni

Ashwin reminisced a significant moment when he dismissed Dhoni in the Challenger Series, a domestic List A tournament. Recalling the incident, Ashwin said, "Dhoni got out twice against our team, and I took a diving catch off his shot towards deep cover. This interaction motivated me to strive for more opportunities."

Stint with Various IPL Teams

During his IPL career, Ashwin spent eight seasons with CSK, contributing to their title victories in 2010 and 2011 as well as their Champions League triumphs in 2011 and 2014. He later played for Rising Pune Supergiant, Punjab Kings, Delhi Capitals, and Rajasthan Royals before returning to CSK for his final IPL season in 2025.

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