An offspinner with a bowling style that is a curious mix of the old and the new, Ashwin’s run-up to the bowling crease is unhurried. Yet, the manner in which he pivots on his left foot at the last moment to deliver his conventional finger spinners reminds one of India’s spin legend S Venkatraghavan. It is, however, Ashwin’s ability to mix his regular deliveries with the one that leaves the right-hand batsman that makes him such a dangerous adversary.

Ashwin enjoyed a remarkable debut season with Tamil Nadu in 2006-07 where he scalped 31 wickets at an average under 20. Picked to play for the Chennai Super Kings right from the IPL’s inaugural season, he became an integral part of that team helping Chennai win both the IPL and CLT20 in 2010. He was, in fact, the leading wicket-taker at CLT20 2010, a feat that also fetched him the Man-of-the-Series award.