Ravichandran Ashwin (born 17 September 1986) is a former Indian cricketer, regarded as one of the finest off-spin bowlers of his generation. He took 537 wickets in 106 Tests, the second-highest total for India after Anil Kumble, and was the fastest Indian to several wicket milestones. A capable batter with six Test centuries, he was part of the teams that won the 2011 World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy. He retired from international cricket in December 2024.
Quick Facts
| Full name | Ravichandran Ashwin |
| Born | 17 September 1986, Madras (now Chennai), India |
| Age | 40 |
| Role | Bowling all-rounder (right-arm off spin, right-hand bat) |
| International career | 2010–2024 |
| Test record | 537 wickets and 3,503 runs in 106 matches |
| Domestic team | Tamil Nadu |
| Education | SSN College of Engineering, Chennai (B.Tech. Information Technology) |
| Spouse | Prithi Narayanan (m. 2011) |
| Honours | Arjuna Award (2015), ICC Cricketer of the Year (2016), Padma Shri (2025) |
Early Life
Ashwin was born in Chennai. His father, Ravichandran, played club cricket as a fast bowler. Ashwin began as an opening batter in junior cricket but switched to off spin after a hip injury as a teenager. He studied at Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan and St. Bede’s schools and took an engineering degree in information technology from SSN College of Engineering.
Career
Ashwin made his name with Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, often bowling with the new ball, and helped them win the title in 2010 and 2011 under MS Dhoni. He made his ODI and T20I debuts in June 2010 and was in the squad that won the 2011 World Cup. On his Test debut against West Indies in Delhi in November 2011 he took nine wickets and was man of the match.
At home Ashwin became almost unplayable, forming a long partnership with Ravindra Jadeja. He was the fastest Indian to 50, 100, 200, 300 and 400 Test wickets. In 2016 he won the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy as the ICC Cricketer of the Year and was also named Test Cricketer of the Year. He developed variations including the carrom ball and was known for studying batters closely.
On the 2020–21 tour of Australia he batted for more than three hours with an injured back to save the Sydney Test. He took his 500th Test wicket against England at Rajkot in February 2024. He announced his retirement from international cricket on 18 December 2024, during the series in Australia, and retired from the IPL in 2025 after a final season back at Chennai Super Kings.
Records
Personal Life
Ashwin married his childhood friend Prithi Narayanan in November 2011, and they have two daughters. He runs a popular YouTube channel in Tamil and English on which he analyses cricket and interviews players, and he published a memoir, I Have the Streets, in 2024.
Awards and Honours
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was Ravichandran Ashwin born?
Ravichandran Ashwin was born on 17 September 1986 in Madras (now Chennai), India and is 40 years old.
What is Ravichandran Ashwin’s role?
Role: Bowling all-rounder (right-arm off spin, right-hand bat).
What honours has Ravichandran Ashwin received?
Arjuna Award (2015), ICC Cricketer of the Year (2016), Padma Shri (2025).
Featured image: Ravichandran Ashwin receives the Arjuna Award from sports minister Sarbananda Sonowal, New Delhi, 31 July 2015. Photo by Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, licensed under Government Open Data License – India, via Wikimedia Commons.
