When MS Dhoni got angry with R Ashwin: The spinner recalls the moment CSK’s doors opened for him. cricket news
Ravichandran Ashwin has revealed an interesting story from the early days of his career, in which he recalls how his excessive celebration after dismissing MS Dhoni in the Challenger Trophy once angered the former Indian captain.Speaking on JioStar’s The Ravichandran Ashwin Experience, the recently retired off-spinner reflected on his struggle for opportunities during his early years. Chennai Super Kings And told how taking Dhoni’s wicket felt like a defining moment.Ashwin admitted that it was extremely difficult to break into CSK’s playing eleven during the early IPL years due to the presence of legendary bowlers like Muttiah Muralitharan.Ashwin said, “Muralitharan was in the team, a veteran player, bowling his full quota, so I was not getting opportunities. I didn’t play in 2008, but in 2009, I got my first match in Cape Town against Mumbai Indians and Sachin Tendulkar. Even between 2009 and 2010, I didn’t get many opportunities.”
According to Ashwin, the turning point came during the Challenger Trophy when he managed to dismiss Dhoni twice. Especially getting that one out is unforgettable for him and obviously for Dhoni as well.“Dhoni got out twice against our team. Once, he shot towards deep cover and I took a diving catch. I celebrated it so much that he got really angry,” Ashwin recalled with a smile.After this the former India spinner shared an entertaining conversation.“He was like, ‘What’s the point of celebrating so much?’ I told him, ‘It was my dream to get your wicket. Maybe this will open doors for me at CSK. Next year I got my chance.”Ashwin eventually became one of CSK’s most important bowlers and played a key role in the franchise’s golden era under Dhoni’s captaincy. Reflecting on the secret behind CSK’s dominance between 2010 and 2015, Ashwin credited the franchise’s balanced squad and the contribution of underrated domestic players.He said, “Chennai was one of the early teams which not only had good batsmen but also many quality bowlers. Along with that, some homegrown players like me, Murali Vijay, Badrinath and Shadab Jakati also came in, whom many might not know about, but they played heroics for CSK.”Ashwin retired from international cricket in December 2024 after one of the most illustrious careers for an Indian spinner.