Ravichandran Ashwin has opened up about an eye-catching moment from the start of his cricket journey—highlighting how a big wicket and an even bigger celebration once left MS Dhoni clearly irritated during the Challenger Trophy era.
Key takeaways
- Ashwin described how his exaggerated celebration after taking MS Dhoni’s wicket sparked an annoyed reaction from Dhoni.
- He said his early time with Chennai Super Kings was difficult because established bowling greats, including Muttiah Muralitharan, were ahead of him.
- Ashwin credited the Challenger Trophy for being a breakthrough phase after dismissing Dhoni twice.
- He later pointed to CSK’s blend of bowling strength and domestic contributors as a major reason behind the franchise’s dominance from 2010 to 2015.
- The off-spinner announced his international retirement in December 2024, ending a highly decorated career.
Early CSK years: waiting behind legends
Speaking on JioStar’s The Ravichandran Ashwin Experience, the recently retired off-spinner looked back on the struggle of earning consistent chances during his formative years with Chennai Super Kings. Ashwin revealed that breaking into the playing XI in the early IPL seasons was far from straightforward, mainly because the team already had world-class bowlers occupying key spots.
In particular, he highlighted how Muttiah Muralitharan’s presence made opportunities scarce. Ashwin explained that Murali was in the side, bowling his full spell quota, which meant Ashwin had to bide his time. He also noted that he did not feature in the 2008 season, and that his first IPL match came later—against Mumbai Indians in Cape Town in 2009 versus Sachin Tendulkar. Even after that debut window, Ashwin said he still did not receive many opportunities between 2009 and 2010.
Challenger Trophy turning point: Dhoni’s wicket and the celebration
According to Ashwin, the real shift in his fortunes arrived during the Challenger Trophy. He managed to dismiss MS Dhoni twice, and one of those dismissals left a lasting impression on both players.
Ashwin recalled that Dhoni had been dismissed on two occasions against their side. One time, Dhoni played a shot towards deep cover, and Ashwin took a diving catch. Ashwin admitted that he celebrated the moment with such intensity that Dhoni—normally unflappable—became visibly irritated.
From there, Ashwin shared the conversation that followed, describing a humorous exchange. He said Dhoni asked, in effect, why Ashwin needed to celebrate so much. Ashwin responded by telling him that getting Dhoni’s wicket was his long-held dream, and that perhaps it would open a path for him back in CSK. Ashwin then added that the very next year he finally got his opportunity.
CSK’s success formula (2010–2015) and the role of domestic talent
As Ashwin’s IPL career progressed, he went on to become one of CSK’s most important bowlers. He later played a central role during the franchise’s “golden era” under MS Dhoni’s captaincy.
Looking back at what fueled CSK’s dominance between 2010 and 2015, Ashwin pointed to the squad’s balance and the value of contributions from less-heralded domestic players. He said Chennai stood out not only for having strong batting but also for possessing multiple quality bowling options. He further credited the pathway that brought players through from within the domestic circuit.
Ashwin named a few examples, including Murali Vijay, Suresh Badrinath, and Shadab Jakati—players some fans may not know well—claiming that they still played courageous, match-relevant roles for CSK.
International retirement
Ashwin retired from international cricket in December 2024, bringing to a close one of the most decorated careers for an Indian spinner.
