Former Indian veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who played in the IPL for Chennai Super Kings over the years, has made a big revelation about former captain MS Dhoni. Ashwin told how once Dhoni got angry with him. Ashwin revealed that early in his career, the former Indian captain got angry at excessive celebration after dismissing Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the Challenger Trophy.

Speaking on Geostar’s ‘The Ravichandran Ashwin Experience’ programme, the off-spinner recalled that he felt that dismissing Dhoni might give him a chance to play for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL. Ashwin said, Muttiah Muralitharan was in the CSK team. A legendary player who was bowling his full quota of overs. That’s why I was not getting opportunities (to play for CSK). I did not play in 2008, but in 2009 I got a chance to play my first match against Sachin Tendulkar against Mumbai Indians in Cape Town. I didn’t get many opportunities even in 2009 and 2010.

Ashwin, who will retire from all formats of international cricket in December 2024, said, I got a chance to bowl to Dhoni in the Challenger Trophy. Dhoni was out twice while playing against our team. Once he played a shot towards deep cover and I dived and took the catch. I celebrated so much that he got really angry. Dhoni asked me, what is the need to celebrate so much? I said, it was my dream to take your wicket. Maybe this will give me a chance to play in CSK, and next year I got a chance.

Ashwin, who took 537 wickets in 106 matches in Test cricket for India, ended his IPL career with CSK because he wanted to end where he started. He said, when I got a chance to play for CSK again, the first thought that came was that I would end my career with the same team with which I had started. I wanted to play for two-three more years but it did not happen. That’s a different story and I won’t talk about it now.

Ashwin said, I had another dream to finish my career in Chepauk. It did not happen. My last IPL match was in Delhi. I played my last ODI match in Chepauk only. I have many memories associated with that ground. He is very close to my heart.