Ravichandran Ashwin doesn’t like “latching on to people” and that’s one reason why he has never warmed up to the idea of banking on coaches in the traditional sense.

In his 14-year international career, spanning 281 games and 744 wickets across formats, Ashwin’s ability to time and again rediscover himself, has helped him survive
the grind.

It is not that Ashwin never had a sounding board. His first state team coach, WV Raman, one of the respected names in Indian cricket, and former India batter S. Badrinath have been guiding forces for him.

But his equation with them never turned into the kind of dependence that would take away his own ability to search for solutions.

“See very often the challenge of a coach is to be able to offer you several solutions. This is because what works for one might not work for the other,” he explained.

“One modern-day coaching philosophy which I totally disagree with is the fact that they try to copy-paste the same technique (solution) that’s worked for another cricketer,” Ashwin said.

While he is completely aware that some players get results by surrendering to the vision of their coaches, the off-spinner also feels that such dependence can lead to a closed mind.

“Because as a cricketer, you constantly are thrown up with new challenges, so you must be able to find your own answers,” Ashwin, who is behind only Anil Kumble in the list of India’s highest Test wicket-takers, pointed out.

To Ashwin, Raman has been that catalyst, who helped him focus his intuitive mind.

“People can give you a helping hand. But they cannot guide you through your career, you will have to be open to fresh ideas.

“For me, WV allowed me the freedom to express, and, you know, try new things. He also taught me how and on what path I need to travel, but he never said, ‘This is the path you need to travel upon’.

“So in a way, in my early days, guidance from WV ensured that I was never really over-reliant on anybody.”

Ashwin also said getting a second opinion is never a bad idea but cricket primarily is a self-taught sport.

“If you don’t have awareness of your own game and if you can’t teach yourself, I think you are always going to be dependent on someone which I think is a very dangerous part.

“I am not saying people with coaches or people who are dependent don’t do well in life but there is a chance of selling yourself short.”

PTI