A school function celebrating its 30th anniversary and featuring students and teachers – past and present – should have looked to carry home fond memories.
St. Andrews High School could not have asked for bigger names than famous singer Sreeram, a product of their own school, and India star off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin as special guests for the gala evening on the school premises.
Ashwin has always been known to express his views fearlessly and he is not deliberately diplomatic either. Speaking straight from his heart, he was the darling of the huge gathering with his views on subjects including his personal life, and the IPL team he is likely to play for, with Chennai Super Kings out of the fray.
“I always loved to be out in the playfield – be it cricket, football or even tennis. I wasn’t brilliant in academics but still good enough to get about 70 per cent marks thanks to the great support from my dad who is my childhood hero,” he said with a sporting smile which drew spontaneous applause for his sincerity.
Ashwin also took pains to remind the gathering that he would still love the kids play on the roads. “You know, I still play gully cricket in my lane during weekends which is fortunately devoid of the heavy flow of traffic being at a dead end in my colony,” he revealed.
Ashwin hit the nail on the head when he said there is always a thin dividing line being critical of a player’s performance and indulging in vendetta. “The moment I sense that it is not objective, I stop reading it any further. If someone is critical of a player's performance, there is always scope to correct,” he said.
India’s match-winning off-spinner remarked that being a player he has no choice when it comes to playing the 2016 IPL.
“I am like a product up for auction though I would love to have a say,” he said. “It is pretty simple. You are in the auction and there your destination is decided. This is a professional world where you cannot stick to a particular team,” he reasoned out. “Yes, from an entrepreneur’s point, it is important to move on. What is important is with whom I will be associating myself. I look for more responsibilities at this stage of my life.
Well, if Sunrisers Hyderabad pick me, why not win an IPL for them,” he remarked.
Ashwin believes that India has a very good chance in the next year’s T-20 World Cup, being host. “We would start as one of the favourites but you just can’t out Australia because of the force they try to hit back at the opponents. South Africans have great abilities.
So, my choice would be amongst these three teams,” he pointed out.
Ashwin candidly revealed that its not all fun; it’s like they (cricketers) tend to sit and chat for long hours. “It is a very competitive world which keeps everyone on their toes.
Generally, any cricketer after hours of practice, would love to beat the previous day’s best performance.
That is how we keep looking ahead.” He adds, “The Indian team practises with a lot of zeal and often for hours. The sole aim is to let loose all the pressure on the eve of the match and find the rhythm in the match.”
What has been his best moment? “Undoubtedly, being a member of the 2011 World Cup winning side. It was unbelievable. It took hours for us to reach our hotel after that win.
Every street in Mumbai— honestly I never thought it has so much population — was packed with fans standing, even on some of the costliest cars like Mercedes, cheering the Indian team.
It was a fantastic experience,” Ashwin commented, to cheers from the gathering before signing off.
