In the competitive world of international cricket, R Ashwin stands out as not just a skilled player but as the mentally toughest cricketer, surpassing even the resilience of Virat Kohli, according to his childhood coach, Sunil Subramaniam.
Ashwin’s connection with cricket dates back to his younger years, where he played an astonishing 2000 matches before making his debut for Tamil Nadu in the Ranji Trophy. Subramaniam highlights Ashwin’s dedication, stating, “He continues to play cricket. He continues to stay quite active, playing T20 cricket in the TNPL whenever and whenever he gets the chance.”
Subramaniam always had confidence in Ashwin’s success, emphasizing that it was never a question of ‘how’ but always ‘when.’ He recognized Ashwin’s exceptional skills and cricketing intelligence, acknowledging the element of luck required to break through in a cricket-loving nation like India.
“I have worked with and seen numerous players. I believe that Ashwin is now the most mentally tough international cricketer. And my evaluation is based on what I have been observing since 2011. I had attentively watched Ashwin since his early years, and Virat had to get out of the slump he was in. They’re not your typical cricketers, these two men. People with this amount of mental toughness and intelligence are rare,” he said.
“However, the stress on a bowler’s physique is different. It is greater than a batter. Despite the dedication Virat has shown in developing his strength and conditioning, he is a batter. It’s a much simpler physical task. Now imagine someone like Ashwin suffering such injuries and being disregarded. Those were heartbreaking moments, but there was no other option because the team’s composition required it. It says a lot about a world-class spinner who is modest enough to miss crucial matches while still being available for his nation,” he added.