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'MS Dhoni Struggled Against My Spell' - R Ashwin Opens Up On First Face-Off Against Thala

R Ashwin Speaks about MS Dhoni - (X.com)R Ashwin Speaks about MS Dhoni - (X.com)

India's legendary spinner R Ashwin, who recently entered the 500 Test wickets club for India, rose to fame during his stint with Chennai Super Kings in IPL's initial years. 

The off-spinner was backed by Dhoni and he repaid the faith shown in him by performing well and soon made his India debut in 2010 and since then he has been ruling the red-ball format for over a decade. 

In the latest events, Ashwin, who played for CSK from 2008-15, opened up on the time when he craved for MS Dhoni's attention during the 2008 IPL and made it a goal to take Thala's wicket. 

"MS Dhoni didn't even know someone like me existed in 2008. So, I made it my life goal, from 2009, to get the wicket of MS Dhoni," Ashwin said.

The 37-year-old stated that he bowled an unbelievable spell in the Challenger Trophy in Nagpur in 2009 where he took Thala's wicket, following which he knew that the off-spinner had skills. 

"I bowled an unbelievable spell in the Challenger Trophy in Nagpur. MS struggled throughout the spell. Once, when he tried to play, the ball went through the gates. I got him out in the final," Ashwin reminisced. From then on, MS Dhoni saw me as someone with skill, and the relationship matured," he said.

Ashwin played a few games in 2009 season but became a regular from the 2010 season.