Former India spinner R Ashwin acknowledged that being ambitious and confident from an early stage in his cricketing career played an important role in his success at all levels as well. He recently announced his IPL retirement as well.

Reflecting on his overall career on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said, “Had anyone said I would achieve so much at the start of my career, I would have been surprised. Yet, when you first try to make it big, the world will constantly oppose it, saying ‘He’s an overthinker, over ambitious and too big to fit in the glove’. I’ve heard many such about myself. However, if I am not ambitious about my own life, who will be? ”

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“Even when I played for CSK, Muttiah Muralitharan was the off-spinner. When he was picked, many told me ‘There is no way two off-spinners will play’. Unfortunately, I have this problem where I wanted to prove people wrong by trying to respond, ‘I’ll make them play two off-spinners’. I see that as my confidence. I’ve even said I’ll play ahead of Muralitharan. That’s not me belittling Muralitharan. It’s just me trying to get to his level,” he again shared.

However, R Ashwin is the eighth all-time leading wicket-taker in Tests with 537 scalps, including a remarkable 37 five-wicket hauls as well.