Ravichandran Ashwin Advocates Self-Reliance: A Story of Independence and Innovation

Ravichandran Ashwin emphasizes self-reliance and cautions against over-dependence on coaches. In his 14-year cricket career, he has continually reinvented himself. While he acknowledges the role of mentors like WV Raman and S Badrinath, Ashwin believes that finding one's own solutions is crucial for long-term success.

Ravichandran Ashwin, one of India's premier off-spinners, firmly believes in the virtue of self-reliance over dependence on traditional coaching methods. In a recent interview, Ashwin, who has played 281 international games and taken 744 wickets, highlighted the dangers of over-dependency on coaches, arguing that it makes players dogmatic and closed to new ideas.

Ashwin credits his ability to continually reinvent himself to his cautious approach towards coaches. While acknowledging the guidance of influential mentors like WV Raman and S Badrinath, he emphasized that their role was never one of complete reliance but rather of catalysts who encouraged independent thinking.

Ashwin's journey, marked by innovations like the 'carrom ball,' underlines the importance of personal agency in cricket. He is fully aware that while some players thrive under the heavy influence of coaches, he remains a proponent of self-teaching as a pathway to sustained success and open-mindedness in the ever-evolving sport.

(With inputs from agencies.)