Ravichandran Ashwin

National Team: India National Cricket Team ( TEST ODI T20I )

Domestic Team: Tamil Nadu cricket team ( FC LO T20 )

Domestic Team: Rajasthan Royals ( T20 )

Date of Birth: 17.09.1986

Batting Style: Right Hand

Role: Bowler

Bowling Style: Right-arm Off Spin

Batting

Pos. Score

Bowling

Pos. Score

All-rounder

Pos. Score

Test Rankings

39 553

1 904

1 493

ODI Rankings

97 402

4 689

8 253

T20I Rankings

164 109

1 772

35 83

Ravichandran Ashwin - universal cricket's player from India

Ravichandran Ashwin is one of the most decorated and widely recognized Indian spin bowlers of the modern cricket era. A long list of records and standout performances has turned him into one of the sport’s most eye-catching figures today. What makes his story even more compelling is the fact that he actually started out as a fairly ordinary batsman.

Ravichandran Ashwin: Sporting Career

Ravichandran Ashwin was born in the major South Indian city of Chennai, Tamil Nadu, on September 17, 1986. His passion for cricket came from his father, a professional club-level fast bowler back in his day.

In 2000, young Ravi-barely 14 at the time-earned a spot in India’s U-17 national squad as a promising batsman. However, he struggled to cement his place there and was eventually replaced by another soon-to-be star, Rohit Sharma.

In 2006, Ashwin began his professional cricket journey with Tamil Nadu, competing in the South Zone. Interestingly, he originally played as a pace bowler before making a complete switch to off-spin – a decision that paid off big time. Scouts from Chennai Super Kings noticed him, and in 2010 he got the call-up.

After a string of strong performances for both Chennai Super Kings and his home state team that same year, Ashwin was selected for India’s senior national squad. He stepped onto the international stage in an ODI on June 5, 2010, against Sri Lanka, and just a week later-on June 12-made his T20I debut against Zimbabwe.

His real breakthrough came in 2011 during a three-match Test series against the West Indies, where he picked up an impressive 22 wickets in the very first match, earning a much-deserved “Player of the Series” award.

Players and coaches around the world have praised Ravichandran Ashwin’s versatility and craft-among them former India Test captain Anil Kumble. His consistency and ability to deliver in clutch moments earned him a host of major accolades:

• Top performer at the Champions League Twenty20
• ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year for the 2015/16 season
• Recipient of the Arjuna Award in 2015
• Winner of Test Player of the Year and the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy (2016) as the best Test cricketer
• Ranked No. 1 on the ICC Test Bowling Rankings in 2015 and 2016
• Included in the ICC Test Team of the Decade (2011-2020)

After wrapping up his remarkable international career in December 2024 and before eventually returning to his home franchise, Chennai Super Kings, Ashwin managed to suit up for an impressive list of teams, including India, India A, Delhi Capitals, India Green, India Blue, India Red, Rising Pune Supergiants, Tamil Nadu, Dindigul Dragons, Kings XI Punjab and even spent time in England playing for Nottinghamshire and Worcestershire.

Ravichandran Ashwin: Personal Life & Fun Facts

Ashwin graduated from an Anglo-Indian higher secondary school and later attended SSN College, earning a bachelor’s degree in Information Technology. He easily could have built a successful career in the IT world.

In 2011, Ravi married his long-time friend and classmate, Narayanan Preethi, and together they are raising two daughters – Akhira and Aadhya. To wrap things up, here are a few interesting facts about this standout cricketer:

• In recognition of his sporting contributions, Chennai authorities named a city street after him in March 2025.
• He still remains a major sporting and commercial draw: in 2024, Ashwin signed a deal with Chennai Super Kings worth more than $1,200,000 at the current exchange rate.
• His net worth, even by modest estimates, exceeds $15,000,000.
• In 2024, Ashwin became a co-owner of the American Gambits chess team, which will compete in the second season of the Global Chess League.
• Outside cricket, he’s into tennis and basketball and plays football regularly.

Ashwin has long admired the play and achievements of Sachin Tendulkar, Shane Warne, Vivian Richards and Kapil Dev. Among athletes from other sports, he highlights the late Diego Maradona, tennis stars Marat Safin, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, as well as sprinter Usain Bolt.

Below is the updated statistical overview of Ravichandran Ashwin across all cricket formats.