Ravichandran Ashwin’s rise began with a bold call in 2011. The night he dismissed Gayle was the night he stepped into the light—thanks to Dhoni’s fearless faith
It was the summer of 2011, and the atmosphere at Chepauk was electric with yellow as the crowd buzzed with excitement, believing that the Chennai Super Kings were on the verge of claiming back-to-back titles in the IPL.
At one end, MS Dhoni stood calm and composed, a true leader directing his team with quiet confidence. Meanwhile, at the other end—padding up in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s dugout—was the formidable Chris Gayle, a player who had been a nightmare for bowlers all season long.
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Gayle was on an absolute tear. In just 12 matches, he had amassed 608 runs at an incredible strike rate of nearly 183. He wasn’t just connecting with the ball but sending it soaring into the skies. Almost single-handedly, he had propelled RCB to the final, and everything indicated that he was ready to do it once more.
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CSK had set a challenging target of 205/5, thanks to a blazing partnership between Hussey and Vijay. But the question lingered: was it enough against the force of nature that was Gayle?
As Dhoni gathered his men before the first over, most expected a seamer to start proceedings. However, Dhoni, known for his unconventional instincts, opted for a wildcard.
He handed the new ball not to a veteran, not even to a medium-pacer, but to a 24-year-old local lad—Ravichandran Ashwin, a spinner who had warmed the bench just three seasons ago. He had yet to debut for India and wasn’t even the most experienced spinner in CSK’s own ranks at the time. Yet here he was, entrusted with the responsibility of bowling to a man in the form of his life.
For a moment, the stadium fell into stunned silence. Was this genius or a gamble?
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The initial deliveries were tight. The fourth? Magical. A slightly quicker carrom ball rushed onto Gayle, leaving him cramped for room, and the big man was caught behind.
Ashwin’s joy was quiet, almost understated. But Chepauk erupted.
In his second over, Ashwin bowled Mayank Agarwal as well, putting RCB on the ropes early. That double blow derailed the chase. Bengaluru never recovered and finished on 147/8, handing CSK a 58-run victory and their second consecutive title.
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That night didn’t just secure CSK the trophy; it transformed Ashwin’s life.
Within months, he was donning the India cap in Tests. He would go on to claim over 500 Test wickets, play over 100 Tests, become India’s second-highest wicket-taker after Anil Kumble, and torment left-handers with near-scientific precision.
However, in Ashwin’s mind, it all commenced that night in Chennai.
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Fast forward to 2024. At a felicitation ceremony organised by the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association, Ashwin stood before an audience of legends. He had just been honoured for surpassing 500 Test wickets. Yet, his voice trembled, not from nerves, but from gratitude.
He recalled how, back in 2008, he was merely a benchwarmer, surrounded by giants like Hayden and Muralitharan. He held no expectations or illusions of grandeur, but Dhoni saw something in him.
That one decision—to toss the ball to a rookie on the biggest night of the season—still lives rent-free in Ashwin’s heart.
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