Unknown facts about Ravichandran Ashwin

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement on Wednesday. Let’s look at five unknown facts about the engineer turned legendry India cricketer…

From seamer to pacer

Ashwin was an opening batter and seamer. He used to roll his arm with the new ball. However, he got severely injured in his pelvic area. The injury could have been career-threatening if he had continued seam bowling. Ashwin took it on a positive note and started warming up his spin bowling skills.

IPL contract over MNC job offer

Ashwin didn’t compromise with his studies for cricket. The engineer turned cricketer got a MNC job offer over IPL contract at the same time. However, he didn’t join the company and chose the CSK route.

Read Also: Former India great raps Ravichandran Ashwin for his retirement amid Test series

Debuts across formats

Ashwin is probably the only international cricketer to have shared debuts across formats in international cricket. In a span of two years, he got his Test cap as well after representing India in white-ball formats.

Carrom ball

Ashwin’s name is still associated with the mysterious carrom ball. When he burst onto the scene, batters were unable to pick up his carrom ball. They were terrified of how to counter the mystery of Ashwin.

Just behind Muralidharan

Ashwin has won 10 Player of the Series awards. Only Sri Lankan great Muttiah Muralidharan (11 in 61) is ahead of him.