Watch: Ravichandran Ashwin interview: A tribute to his book, Chennai gully cricket, and why 3 Idiots was a turning point
Ravichandran Ashwin has just hit a pull shot and the ball has landed on the temple beside him. The lanes of Ramakrishnapuram in West Mambalam, Chennai were abuzz with gully cricket every evening between 4 and 6 pm. In the 1990s and early 2000s, young Ashwin was at the centre of all sporting activities.
After a busy day at school, Ashwin was overjoyed to see the bat and ball and his ‘regional’ friends. Some days, he would be the hero, scoring lots of runs. Other days, he would have to beg Ghazi, A popular term in Tamil Nadu for ‘batting’. And there were times when he had to face the strict uncle next door, scolding him for smashing a big six by breaking the window pane.
But every day, Ashwin would go to sleep dreaming of the events that would take place in the evening and looking forward to more drama and action the next day.
Ravichandran Ashwin | Photo credit: Shiva Raj S
Today, he is regarded as India’s top offspinner, with over 500 Test wickets to his name and an impeccable track record across formats; yet, the alleys of West Mambalam still hold their allure. “I would do anything to go back. The joy of being in those alleys, fighting for those 2-3 runs and the ball going in the well… these are all great stories,” he says at his recent book launch at the Taj Coromandel.
Ashwin has shared many such stories in his book, I have roads: The story of a kutty cricket (published by Penguin Random House India), in which he has collaborated with cricket writer Siddharth Monga to paint a candid picture of the days before professional cricket and the little joys on the cricket-loving streets of Chennai. “I got goosebumps while writing it. Today, people don’t play cricket on the streets like they used to. I just feel that after reading this, if anyone wants to play cricket in the evening, I will have achieved what I aimed to do.”
Ravichandran Ashwin with his wife Preeti at the launch of his book | Photo courtesy: Vedhan M
Write down the approach
the seed of I have roads This idea came to Ashwin’s mind after he read a lot of novels – he is a fan of Clive Cussler, Chetan Bhagat and has read all the novels. Ponniyin Selvan books – and also read autobiographies of Australian cricketers Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting. “While reading Ponting’s book, I was transported to his house in Launceston, Tasmania. When I read it, I thought, ‘Hey, this is what my life looks like.’ With my book, I wanted to be very candid and real.”
so, I have roads, Apart from being dedicated to ancient Madras,The book also gives a glimpse into Ashwin’s middle-class Tamil family. His parents and grandfather, who played a key role in getting him into the sport, play important characters, as do his friends. It also takes us back to his days at Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan School, where he first met his wife Preeti. “The book also shows my self-doubts and vulnerabilities, but that’s what makes it real. A lot of people want to portray themselves as perfect, and I’m not perfect.”
ticket to happiness
Ashwin is a huge fan of movies and references cinema in all his content, be it on YouTube or his book. “I have learned a lot about life through movies. If I watch movies GhillieI want to understand the friendship between actor Vijay and his family rather than going to Madurai and fighting. I connect with it.”
He describes watching an Aamir Khan film. 3 Idiots He called it a turning point in his career. “I saw that film at the right stage of my life, and it made me say that I am probably on the right track. I was very excited when it was remade in Tamil with Vijay, because I am a big fan of the actor as he has multiple abilities in dance, action and comic touch.”
spirit of the game
Ashwin is now widely regarded in the international sporting community as a ‘thoughtful, competitive cricketer’, but he insists that has always been the case.
Ravichandran Ashwin at the launch of his book | Photo credit: Vedhan M
“This sport was a way for me to compete. Even today, I am the same gully cricketer who used to play in the lanes of Ramakrishnapuram. I have the same fight in me.” Ashwin also mentioned ‘Mankading’, a method of dismissal in which the non-striking batsman has to back off. “In the book, I remember running out my friend Bhuvnesh at the non-striker’s end in gully cricket. Many years later, I ran out Jos Buttler in an IPL game. It doesn’t really matter to me, because Bhuvnesh is more precious to me than Buttler. The fact that we can go to the soup shop and have fun the same evening makes gully cricket special.”
Ashwin wants to stay actively involved with the game in the future as well. Next month, he will play for the Dindigul Dragons in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL). He is also busy shooting content for his popular YouTube channel, which is a delight for anyone interested in Chennai’s two main loves, cricket and cinema. He will soon come up with a second part of it as well. I have roads Apart from this, there are also plans to organise a cricket quiz soon.
And, when time permits, Ashwin hopes to play street cricket again in the lanes of West Mambalam and the Somasundaram Ground in T Nagar. “I want to do something called ‘Motta Maadi Cricket’ (terrace cricket), just like ‘Motta Maadi Music’, a popular musical concept. I want to bring back the fun of playing cricket on the rooftops.” Chennai, are you ready?
