Ashwin joined the Chennai-based IPL franchise in 2009 with Dhoni leading the side. After impressing in his second season for them, picking 13 wickets, the off-spinner was awarded a spot in India’s limited-overs teams and was a part of the 2011 World Cup-winning unit as well, before graduating to the Test side.

The 33-year-old pointed out it was the freedom that Dhoni provided him with that helped him improve as a bowler, adding that his presence behind the wickets helped him “peak”.

.@ashwinravi99‘s got moves! 🌀pic.twitter.com/K8YJHEqUs5

— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) July 16, 2020

Though Ashwin hasn’t been a part of India’s limited-overs sides for over three years now, he is among the key players in the Test side, having picked 365 wickets for the team in 71 Tests.

“It is always huge to play for your country,” he told Hindustan Times. “It is an honour and a dream come true for a cricketer, a real landmark. This helped me initially and I settled in the role pretty well. I had also played a lot of domestic cricket by then.

Matches taken to:

250 wickets: 45

300 wickets: 54

350 wickets: 66

👏 pic.twitter.com/b3V3ZJt93H

— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) July 16, 2020

“There was no pressure as such. I enjoyed playing for India when I got the chance. I never thought I was filling someone else’s shoes. I created my own space as time went by. (Captain) Dhoni also helped me gain confidence by always backing me.

“I have been fortunate enough to have played under MS for a long time. He has this quality of giving space to the bowler and let him do his stuff. He gave that freedom, which helped me become a better bowler. His role behind the wickets further helped me peak. Be it T20 or Tests, his cricketing brain was superb. And the way he backs his players is phenomenal.”