Overwhelmed by emotion and stuffed with gratitude at being grandly feted for hitting the 500-wicket mark in Tests, Ravichandaran Ashwin on Saturday recalled the one man he would perpetually be “indebted to” for displaying religion in a “nobody” 13 years in the past — his first IPL and India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. With 516 scalps in 100 Tests, Ashwin is a bonafide celebrity in Indian cricket, simply second behind the good Anil Kumble within the listing of prime Indian wicket-takers within the five-day format.

But it was not the case again in 2008 when he was roped in as an area spinner by Chennai Super Kings. He didn’t get a recreation that 12 months because the legendary Muttiah Muralitharan led their spin assault.

Dhoni flung the brand new ball to Ashwin within the 2011 IPL ultimate towards Royal Challengers Bangalore and the then rookie off-spinner made an impression within the fourth ball itself, dismissing an in-form Chris Gayle.

The identical 12 months he made his India debut underneath Dhoni, choosing up the participant of the match honours within the recreation towards the West Indies in Delhi.

“In 2008 I met all the greats (in CSK dressing room) Mathew Hayden and MS Dhoni. I sat through (IPL) 2008. I was a nobody then, where am I to play in a team that had Muttiah Muralitharan,” stated Ashwin, who was felicitated by the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association in a grand ceremony for his uncommon achievements, in a dipped-in-emotion voice.

“I am indebted to Dhoni for the rest of my life for what he gave me. He gave me an opportunity with the new ball to go head on with Chris Gayle and 17 years later Anil bhai would be talking about the same episode,” he fondly recalled.

That magical Chepauk evening for Chennai Super Kings was only a starting for Ashwin. With a number of present and former stars paying tributes to him, Ashwin understandably felt overwhelmed.

“I don’t generally search for words to express how I feel. I am truly humbled and grateful to be here,” he quipped.

The 37-year-old Chennai man is among the many best thinkers of the sport and he has discovered a approach to continuously reinvent himself, leading to a bagful of wickets within the longest format.

He described himself as argumentative however solely in pursuit of recent views.

“Anil bhai and Rahul (Dravid) bhai briefly mentioned that it is very tough to win an argument with me. It is true because I believe argument is one of the greatest pathways to excellence.

“Argument is rarely with the particular person. It is all the time with the true studying that comes on the finish of it,” he said as Kumble watched on from the stage.

Ashwin also thanked a host of Tamil Nadu greats, who were in attendance, including his first First-Class captain S Badrinath and former batter S Sharath, who is now an India selector.

Ashwin, who is especially lethal against the left-handers, recalled how Sharath helped him become a better bowler against the southpaws.

“Lots of people spoke about how I tormented left-handers day in and day trip. My first tryst with left handers, Mr S Sharath is sitting within the entrance. Someone informed me in case you are that good an off-spinner try to get this man out.

“I did get him out once, caught at slip and I played several more games with Sharath, he never got out to me again. That’s the quality of the batter he was. I bowled to him a lot and hence became a far better bowler to the left-handers.

Such is Ashwin’s commitment to Tamil Nadu and club cricket that till date he makes himself available for domestic events when he is not on national duty.

“This place has given me a lot that I wish to hold coming again right here. People hold asking why do you wish to return.

“Tomorrow, I might not be alive but my soul will be hanging around this place. This is what this place means to me,” added Ashwin.

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