Ashwin’s Journey Under MS Dhoni’s Steady Guidance Over 15 Years

When Ravichandran Ashwin started his IPL career, he was under MS Dhoni’s captaincy at Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Now recognized as one of the best bowlers in cricket, Ravichandran Ashwin owes much of his early success to the guidance of Dhoni. Starting as an off-spinner, Ashwin quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a key player in the Indian team, especially in the Indian Test team.

MS Dhoni’s Leadership and Ashwin’s Growth

In a recent chat, Ravichandran Ashwin shared an interesting revelation about his early days with Chennai Super Kings (CSK). He said that MS Dhoni would not have even noticed him at one point in his first year in the team. Even so, under Dhoni’s leadership, Ashwin started flourishing, especially as a powerplay bowler.

Talking about MS Dhoni, Ravichandran Ashwin said:

I assume Dhoni didn’t know about my life during my first year. I don’t think he knew or maybe he  didn’t know at all, it’s Dhoni. Over the years, Ashwin has seen Dhoni be perfect in his ways, treating players in 2024 as he did in 2008-09.

Ashwin recalled a match in 2010 in which MS Dhoni was given an injury, allowing Suresh Raina to take over as captain. This change affected how Ashwin is used in games. The spinner mentioned:

Because Mutthiah Muralitharan and I were on the same team, I bowled a little bit later and ended up bowling at death in Chennai. I have not had a good time; I’ve failed the team three times already. But when MS Dhoni came back as captain, he immediately brought me back to my preferred position.

I think he said, ‘I need that guy back.’ I came back here and he used me again with the other ball, like he used me for Adam Gilchrist in the powerplay and I got him out in Chennai. This genuine acceptance and confidence from Dhoni is vital to Ashwin’s confidence as a a bowler.

MS Dhoni’s Influence on Others

MS Dhoni has a knack for identifying and managing skills, assigning players to roles they can play well. This ability to understand and make great players has been the hallmark of Dhoni’s management.

The ex-captain’s advice to Ashwin remains the same. He helped Ashwin keep trying new things and constantly reinventing himself. This proposal caught the eye of 37-year-old Ashwin, who is still introducing new changes to his bowling to survive ahead of the tournament.

MS Dhoni’s Advice to Ashwin:

 Try to new best things, to be funky. So, don’t change for someone else. Even years later, through a meeting in Dubai, MS Dhoni reiterated the same advice that he needed to preserve his unique style and mental strength.

To conclude, Ashwin’s career is a testament to the impact of MS Dhoni’s constant and insightful advice. The mantra of being funky and gradually improving has not been the best way to describe Ashwin’s cricket these days. But it has additionally been the key factor in his success when Ashwin plays and MS Dhoni suggests the guides sleep still slowly, reminding him to push the boundaries.