'He was a hard taskmaster': Ashwin reserves high praise for ex-India batter, recalls training under him in initial years

Ravichandran Ashwin recalled training under the former India batter, and also revealed how he played a key role in his development as a cricketer.

Last week, Ravichandran Ashwin broke Kapil Dev's wicket-taking record to become India's second-highest wicket-taker in Tests. Ashwin dismissed Sri Lanka's Charith Asalanka to achieve the feat, and now remains only behind former leg-spinner and captain Anil Kumble, who has 619 dismissals to his name. The 35-year-old Indian off-spinner made his Test debut in 2011 and has since represented the country in 85 matches so far.

India's Ravichandran Ashwin in action on the 2nd day of the first Test match between India and Sri Lanka, at PCA Stadium, in Mohali on Saturday. (Surjeet Kumar)

Ashwin, who represents Tamil Nadu in the domestic circuit, made his First-class debut for the state in 2006. At the time of his debut, former India cricketer WV Raman was the coach of the state and Ashwin, in an interview posted by the BCCI, opened up on his beginnings for the state side under Raman.

Ashwin recalled his first experience of being trained under Raman, who he called a “hard taskmaster.”

“When I made my debut, I had walked into the Chepauk stadium and Raman was the coach. (He was) a hard taskmaster and a lot of people feared having conversations with him. So, we were going through this practice session one day and he was giving these fielding sessions. But the amount of pressure he used to inflict on people who were throwing the ball on the top of the stumps was incredible,” Ashwin recalled.

“If you didn't throw the ball at the top of the stumps, he would just have a go at you. This kept happening for 10 days, 12 days, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, and we got a little comfortable. He used to prod me at the net, I used to question him and I didn't really have fear speaking in the team meeting.”

Ashwin then revealed how Raman made him more acknowledging towards feedback and suggestions.

"One day, he just took me to the side and said, 'Ashwin, you've just come into the side. I appreciate you speaking in the team meetings, but you also need to understand why we say certain things. We say it with the intent to make sure that once you go to the Indian team, you are not found wanting with your basics'. And that really opened the floodgates for me and Raman forever. Because I knew this man had the best intent in place for anybody who walked into the ground inside this team,” said Ashwin.

The off-spinner is set to return to action on March 12 when the side takes on Sri Lanka in the second and final Test of the series in Bengaluru.