28 April,2011 09:24 AM IST | | Sai Mohan
While most World Cup-winning youngsters would eye sports cars, lavish bungalows, inheriting a new lifestyle, and chomp through monetary rewards that accompany an Indian cricketer, R Ashwin's middle-class values, solid academic background and early tussle with health have ensured the off-spinner kept his head on his shoulders.
Even today, his house in West Mambalam, a typical middle-class locality, hasn't seen any lavish renovation despite his recent success. Add to that, the 24-year old has enrolled in an MBA programme, to fulfil his mother Chitra's wishes.
Chennai Super Kings' R Ashwin celebrates the wicket of Mayank Agarwal
during the IPL match against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the
M A Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on April 16. PIC/AFP
Chitra said it was the pressure of simultaneously succeeding in both academics and cricket that has moulded her son into a tough character.
"We never allowed him to focus only on cricket. I kept pushing him to do well in studies. In brahmin culture, we never compromise on education, and Ashwin was mature enough to accept that," she said.
"There was pressure from school for attendance, for better marks, and there was the pressure of balancing all these factors with cricket. If you ask me, this is the reason Ashwin is a mentally tough cricketer."
Ashwin's father Ravichandran cited his son's performance in the Champions League as proof of his resilience.
"Cricket was his passion, studies were not. Academics were imposed on him, and he came out with flying colours. That's just what he experienced during the Champions League when he got hit during the Super Over, but bounced back in the next game. He is a very balanced guy," said Ravichandran, who played for Egmore Excelsiors for 13 years in the city league.
Ashwin used to accompany his father to the matches during weekends and at the age of 11 he got to represent the fifth division side as an opening batsman.
"Our club gave him a good platform. Also, Ashwin was blessed to go to a top school (Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan), and thereafter attended the best possible institute for his further studies," added Ravichandran, a Southern Railways employee.
Turning point
At the age of 14, Ashwin suffered a severe pelvic injury, which required surgery and threatened to disrupt his budding cricketing career. The ligaments between his hip bones were torn and the blood went into the bone joints, and hence caused it to be diffused.
"He would have had implants which would have put a halt to his cricket career. Luckily, we sought second opinion from another orthopaedic doctor," Chitra said.
"We had to put him in bed rest for two months, and he was out of action for almost eight months. Even after that, he was limping for some time.
"It was a turning point in many ways because he went back to his school side and found that someone else had taken his opening batting slot. I was the one who suggested he take to spin bowling, and it all turned out fine in the end," a smiling Chitra said.
Right place, right time
Ashwin made rapid strides at the state level just as the Indian Premier League (IPL) was taking shape.
"To be very honest, everything happened alongside for Ashwin. He was at the right place, at the right time," Chitra said.
"He got wickets in Ranji Trophy at the right time. (BCCI Secretary and India Cements' Managing Director) N Srinivasan and others in the Chennai Super Kings crew saw him take a five-wicket haul, and immediately wanted him to join them in the IPL."
No distractions
Ashwin went on India Under-17 tours, but never for a second did he contemplate quitting education.
"He met a lot of youngsters on that tour who had dedicated their life to cricket. But, Ashwin never asked if he could quit education and pursue a career in cricket. We never thought cricket was going to be so rewarding for him, and he respected our decision," said Chitra.
