Tamil Nadu batter Baba Indrajith recently lavished praise on Ravichandran Ashwin for his exceptional leadership during the Dindigul Dragons’ (DD) victorious run in the 2024 Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL). Both players played pivotal roles in securing the Dragons’ first-ever TNPL title, with Ashwin’s captaincy and on-field performances earning widespread acclaim.
Indrajith himself was a standout performer in the tournament, finishing as the third-highest run-scorer with 286 runs at an impressive average of 40.85 and a strike rate of 133.02 across 10 matches. Surprisingly, Ashwin wasn’t far behind, ending as the fifth-highest run-scorer with 252 runs, averaging 36 with a blistering strike rate of nearly 152.
Despite the team’s shaky start, barely scraping into the playoffs with a fourth-place finish, Ashwin’s leadership was instrumental in guiding the Dragons to their maiden TNPL championship.
In an interview with Cricket.com, Indrajith lauded Ashwin’s cricketing acumen, noting his potential to lead an IPL team to victory: “Of course, everyone will see him as a captain, he has a very good cricketing brain. He’s always thinking of getting one up over the batter or the bowler. He has all the leadership qualities, I think he has the dream to win an IPL trophy as a captain, so why not.”
Ashwin’s impact was felt throughout the playoff stage, where the Dragons needed to win three consecutive matches to clinch the title. Ashwin stepped up in style, scoring three consecutive half-centuries that propelled the team to ultimate glory.
The 37-year-old has had prior experience leading an IPL side, having captained the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the 2018 and 2019 seasons. However, the team narrowly missed out on playoff spots both times.
Indrajith didn’t just praise Ashwin’s on-field leadership; he also highlighted his off-field influence on the entire squad. “His involvement was not just in his skills but other players’ skills as well, not just on-field but off-field as well. In the last 30-35 days, including the camp [10 days], he was involved throughout. Right from the first person to the 20th person, he was involved with all, constantly pushing them to increase their fitness and strength. I don’t think even a head coach would have done as much as him,” remarked Indrajith.
Ashwin, known for his brilliant mind and tactical nous, will soon be back on the field, representing India in the upcoming two-Test series against Bangladesh, starting September 19. With his eyes set on more challenges ahead, Ashwin’s leadership journey might just be getting started.
