R Ashwin - A true Son of the Soil!

'Wily', 'Guile', 'Skilful', 'Master Tactician', 'Craftsman', 'Mind Reader', 'Problem Solver', 'Homework'. These are some of the key words/phrases that characterises and symbolises Ravichandran Ashwin the cricketer. When the announcement of his retirement came along in the midst of an intensifying test series, it felt out of the blue and out of the box much like the man himself. 

Ashwin could have easily obtained and right royally deserved a farewell test to be played at home but didn't opt for it. He felt the time was ripe and decided to hang his boots. Ashwin's career especially as a test cricketer reeks splendour in every way and his records speak for itself. He could easily slot himself amongst the greatest 10 test cricketers that India has ever produced. Since the turn of this century, there has been no greater match winner for India than Ravi Ashwin.

The first step to assess the longevity of a cricketer is by determining the number of test matches a cricketer has played. There are less than 100 cricketers since the inception of test cricket to have represented their country in over 100 test matches and Ash is one of those to have this privilege. Getting 500 test wickets is like the greatest summit ever to be achieved by any bowler and Ashwin is just one of 9 cricketers to scale this monumental peak. He will end his career as the second highest wicket taker for India with 537 test wickets behind his idol Anil Kumble. As a bowling all rounder he was also no mug with the bat impressing with a tally of over 3500 runs with 6 centuries to boot. Coming to his core skill of bowling, he is joint second highest with Shane Warne in terms of 5 wicket hauls with 37 and the only bowler other than Muttiah Muralidharan to account for a whopping 10 wicket hauls in a test match on 10 different occasions. He has also been rewarded with 'player of the match' 10 times and is also joint highest ever on the 'player of the series' award which he has received on a eye popping 11 occasions.

Having mentioned some of his superlative achievements, one also needs to factor few other notable points which perhaps could have made his records glow even brighter. Considering all the entrants into the 500 wicket club, Ashwin was a delayed starter being the only one to don international colours after the age of 25. Thus, he certainly didn't have a head start by any stretch of the imagination and in fact was a late bloomer. It's really rare for a cricketer to make such inroads and strides after beginning their career in a relatively later time frame when considered with other doyens of the game. Another fact to ponder is that despite Ashwin logging over 100 tests with 106 to be precise, he missed about 30 of those especially the one's in SENA countries on account of not being selected. Thus, he could have easily added much more wickets to his tally if presented the opportunity.

One question which keeps pointing against Ashwin is his inability to counter foreign conditions and his potency being potentially negligible in alien territories relative to his supremacy at home. This is again questionable because in reality he never got much of a chance to showcase his potential. In the limited opportunities that he got he did what best he could. And there especially were some really wrong selection calls where Ash unfortunately got the rough end of the stick by not being picked in few very crucial games overseas. It's again not his fault that he was at his herculean best at home conditions and those criticising him as purely a home surface bully is certainly not vindicated. From times immemorial, batsman and bowlers are said to adopt to certain conditions better and truth be told majority of the greatest cricketers have a better home record than away. His record in India is simply impeccable and he has been the chief architect in India garnering 18 continuous series victories ranging at a stretch across the period from 2013 to 2024 and winning 19 of the total 21 series that he has partaken at home soil traversing over his test career from 2011-2024.

One has to appreciate how decisively and deceptively he exploited his skill sets to get bucket loads of wickets aplenty at home. Left handers especially fell to his trap many a time laid by his clever, cunning and cheeky tricks. He mastered the art of the carrom ball and had the wood over many of the best players through his armoury of excellence. Many a time he has simply rattled the opposition with his flight and guile paving the way for plethora of Indian victories.

Ashwin, the red ball cricketer deserves all the encomiums but it's well worth noting that he also had his moments in white ball cricket. He was part of the ODI World cup winning side of 2011 and also helped India win the Champions Trophy 2013 in England by bowling a terrific under pressure last over to seal victory. One would also fondly remember his leaving the ball stance with 2 required off one delivery and eventually hitting the winning shot against Pakistan in a game for the ages at MCG during the T20 World Cup 2022.

Tamil Nadu as a state and Chennai as a city is known to be culturally rooted and takes super fondness towards the sport of cricket. It's known to be immensely cricket loving and knows to appreciate greatness. The holied turf of the MA Chidambaram stadium has witnessed many a classic over the years. Ashwin himself has been a stellar performer at his home ground accounting for plenty of runs and wickets in the opportunities presented. There have been quite a few cricketers from TN to have represented India in test cricket but Ashwin easily goes down as the finest ever iconic cricketer to be produced from the soil of this land for his long lasting impact and reaching the pinnacle of greatness. It is but yet fitting that he has been picked by Chennai Super Kings at the auctions and will be representing his beloved CSK at the 2025 edition of the IPL. Here's hoping the farewell which he didn't receive in International cricket will yield to rousing receptions and chants of "Ashwin Anna" on his homecoming to Chennai.

Ravichandran Ashwin can truly look back at his achievements with pride and can walk back with his head held high for all the joy he has given to Indian cricket. It's a no brainer that the love he has for the sport will make him associated with it in some form or other with many young & upcoming talents getting benefited from his expertise. Ravichandran Ashwin has been a source of inspiration for cricket lovers all across the globe and with his departure from Indian colors, he can truly cherish by savouring all those memorable moments and reflect upon this 13 year fulfilling career with immense gratification and satisfaction. Go well, Ash!

Sachin the One Day International Batsman

Since 1994 when i started watching and enjoying cricket, one name has always been tied with the sport like a string attached to a guitar. There maybe cricketers who might match or even surpass your test records, but you are the one and only numero uno when it comes to the original form of limited overs cricket - One Day Internationals. How can I forget waking up early in the morning watching you score a trailblazing 82 off a mere 49 deliveries in your new avatar of One Day Opener, how thrilled was I seeing you score your 1st One Day Century against the Australians at the Singer Cup 94, then your 96 WC exploits with that blitzkrieg 90 against the Aussies at Mumbai and then I was so gutted when you got out stumped and India fell short of the target eventually by 16 runs. That 137 vs the Lankans on a misty day at Delhi with only a run out averting you from getting to 150 - what fun it was seeing you and Azhar rip the Lankan bowling attack in the last 5 overs. What about that glorious 104 at Benoni vs Zimbabwe when you had to get the target within just about 40 overs or so to reach the final vs South Africa, then that 1998 back to back hundreds under the Desert Storm in Sharjah - ah those vivid memories of you coming down the wicket and tonking Fleming and Kasprowicz for 6 with Tony Greig going bazooka is epic level of the highest order.

The year 1998 in entirety when you scored truckloads of centuries and officially assumed the status of God in the minds of millions of cricket fans, that unforgettable massacring of Henry Olonga at Sharjah when he thought he had the better of you hahahaha, that 186 not out vs the Kiwis on a field day when you were involved in the best ever partnership of 331 runs with Rahul Dravid, those pulverising sixes hit off Shoaib Akhtar over third man on way to a destructive 98 off a mere 70 odd deliveries in a crucial World Cup Indo Pak clash at Centurion, the brilliant 175 when you almost single handedly snatched a famous win chasing 350 against the Aussies at Hyderabad, the first ever double hundred in ODIs at Gwalior where you treated the South African bowlers with utter disdain. Coming to the memorable WC 2011 where you showed your class yet again on the big stage by cracking hundreds against both England and South Africa, your 85 against Pakistan probably one of your worst innings, but nevertheless helped Ind to defeat its arch rivals in a do or die Semifinal at Mohali thus taking India to the final and making your lifetime dream of winning a word cup come true and finally your laboured 100th international century which came against Bangladesh making you the first man on the planet to get to the coveted landmark. These are just a gist of evergreen glorious Sachin memories.

Sachin - you just didn't set benchmarks but you were a benchmark yourself. Thanks for all the moments, memories and entertainment. Your exploits on the cricketing field will be etched in the minds of millions of cricketing lovers forever. I still cant get over the fact that the next time i switch on my television to watch a ODI involving India, I won't be seeing the name Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar on the scoreboard.

 
One Day International Cricket will never be the same without your larger than life persona!