Key Highlights
- New Zealand leg spinner Adithya Ashok is set to play in the upcoming three-match ODI series against India.
- Ashok trained at CSK academy in Chennai and got a tattoo of “En vazhi thani vazhi” as a tribute to his late grandfather.
- The 23-year-old, with Tamil roots, has been grateful for the opportunity to train in Chennai and hopes this experience will help him in the series against India.
- Ashok is looking forward to facing top Indian players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma and believes his training at CSK Academy can be a big advantage.
New Zealand Spinner Adithya Ashok: Preparing for ODI Series Against India
Adithya Ashok, a 23-year-old leg spinner from New Zealand with Tamil roots, is all set to play in the upcoming three-match One Day International (ODI) series against India. Ashok, who trained at CSK Academy in Chennai last year, has expressed his gratitude for the opportunity and believes that this experience will be invaluable as he faces top Indian players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
Ashok’s Training Experience in Chennai
Spending a couple of weeks at the CSK Academy in Chennai last year was a significant milestone for Ashok. He learned about the different types of pitches, including red soil and black oil, which are common in India but uncommon in New Zealand. “First of all, just on the experience in Chennai, I was very fortunate to get that opportunity,” Ashok said during a virtual media interaction. “We have a great connection with Sriram Krishnamurthy, who’s obviously the lead there. The things that we learned there were amazing, to be honest. Understanding about potentially how you can go about setting up batters and things like that.”
Tribute to Late Grandfather
For Ashok, his training in Chennai also had a personal significance. He got a tattoo inked on his bowling form as a tribute to his late grandfather, which reads “En vazhi thani vazhi” (my way is a unique way) in Tamil. This famous line comes from a Rajnikanth movie that he watched with his grandfather when the latter was ill. “As a tribute to my late grandfather, I got this tattoo inked on my bowling form,” Ashok explained. “He was very close to me and remains connected to my roots in Tamil Nadu.”
Support from New Zealand Cricket
New Zealand Cricket has been supportive of Ashok’s journey, recognizing his potential as an Indian-origin spinner capable of representing the Black Caps. Ish Sodhi, who will be the lead spinner for New Zealand in the T20 World Cup, is one of the mentors supporting Ashok. “If you ask me who my favourite legspinner of all time is, it’s tough to go past Shane Warne,” said Ashok. “But growing up in New Zealand, it was really cool to see, I’m really fortunate to have the relationship with him now, but someone like Ish is big for me in terms of being like a big brother.”
Ashok also mentioned that his current mentor Tarun Nethula and former New Zealand cricketer Paul Wiseman have been pillars of support during his journey. “There’s a lot of stuff that we learned that was really cool,” Ashok added. “For example, black soil and red soil and how those pitches behave and things like that. I think those are the big takeaways for me and it’s just kind of building my library as a cricketer which is probably the most important thing.”
Preparation for India Series
The upcoming three ODIs in the country of his birth can only make Ashok richer in experience. “Having been here before, and especially with Sriram and stuff in Chennai, it only creates a little bit more experience for myself, which I’m very grateful for,” he said. “This stint last year does give me a base understanding. It doesn’t sit there and make you like tick the box and go, okay, sweet, I’m gonna do well or okay, I’ve got this covered or whatever. You just have an understanding of what it might behave like.”
With his experience and support from New Zealand Cricket, Adithya Ashok is now ready to face India in the ODI series starting on January 11 in Baroda.
His journey thus far has been a blend of personal tribute, professional growth, and the support of cricket legends. The upcoming series promises to be an exciting chapter for both Ashok and Indian fans alike.