“It's completely his brainwork”: Ravichandran opens up about his famous son, Ashwin

Subramaniam mentored Ashwin's spin prowess

R Ashwin's father Ravichandran still thanks Sunil Subramaniam for polishing an uncut diamond. Subramaniam was a skillful left-arm spinner in the early 1990s, with the potential to play for the Indian team. But somehow, he failed to make it. As he finished his playing career and became a coach, Subramaniam taught Ashwin the nuances of spin bowling in his formative years.

Ravichandran spoke about Subramaniam again, after his son dished out a Player of the Match performance against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL Eliminator. “He (Subramaniam) looked after Ashwin and groomed him,” said the proud father. “He made a huge contribution.”

The coach taught Ashwin the basics. Intelligence made the off-spinner special. Ashwin is a thinking cricketer. Sometimes, even by his own admission, he overthinks. But he has the ability to play with a batsman's mind and it complements his skills. It transfers the pressure onto the batsman.

It reflected in Cameron Green's body language, when the RCB batsman miscued a hit against a carrom ball in the Eliminator. It reflected in Glenn Maxwell’s submission after he was done in by an off-break. Ashwin returned with 2-19 from his four overs. He should have had three, but Dhruv Jurel dropped a sitter to give Rajat Patidar a reprieve. Ashwin’s match-winning spell took Rajasthan Royals to Qualifier 2.

“It’s completely his (Ashwin’s) brainwork,” said Ravichandran. “He is very, very intelligent and he is a very stubborn and determined cricketer. I feel proud of him because he is more intelligent than me.”

Ashwin’s love of books has contributed to his intelligence. “He is a voracious reader and accrues knowledge through his reading,” said Ravichandran. “Even when he was in school, he used to do his (home) work on his own. I helped him during his schooldays, but he has the natural intelligence to improve. He has always been a very independent person.”

By his lofty standards, Ashwin was off-colour in the first half of this year's IPL. In the first nine games, he took just two wickets. In the next four, he has taken seven. As the master off-spinner revealed after the match against RCB, an abdominal injury was preventing him from completing his action. That's been taken care of, and he is in top fettle now.

The Qualifier 2 and the final would be played at Chepauk, Ashwin's home ground and according to his father, lifting the trophy on his home patch would be a matter of great pride. Ravichandran wants his son to be Rajasthan Royals’ shining light in the Qualifier 2 and the final.

“The Sunrisers Hyderabad game is next and if RR win that and reach the final, I expect Ashwin to raise his game even more and to be the shining light of the final,” said Ravichandran. “I bless him for that.”

In exclusive arrangement with RevSportz