Key Highlights
- New Zealand leg spinner Adithya Ashok is set to face India in an upcoming ODI series.
- Ashok trained at the Chennai Super Kings academy last year and has a strong connection with his Tamil Nadu roots.
- He got a tattoo inspired by a Rajinikanth movie to honor his late grandfather.
New Zealand Spinner Adithya Ashok Set for ODI Series Against India
In an upcoming three-match One Day International (ODI) series, New Zealand leg spinner Adithya Ashok is preparing to face India. Born in Vellore and with Tamil roots, Ashok spent a couple of weeks training at the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) academy last year, gaining valuable insights into Indian cricket conditions.
Ashok’s Journey and Training Experience
The 23-year-old spinner moved to New Zealand from Vellore with his family when he was just four years old. His bond with his grandfather remained strong throughout his life, and in tribute to him, Ashok got a tattoo of the famous line ‘En vazhi thani vazhi’ (my way is a unique way) from a Rajinikanth movie inked on his bowling form.
Preparation and Knowledge Gained
Ashok’s stint at the CSK academy was not just about training; it also allowed him to understand different pitch conditions in India, which are often challenging for spinners. He noted that while he usually bowls on pace-friendly surfaces back home, his experience with red soil and black oil pitches in India will be an asset against players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
“First of all, just on the experience in Chennai, I was very fortunate to get that opportunity. I am grateful for the opportunity from New Zealand Cricket to send me over there and with a few of our boys and learn,” said Ashok.
Building Experience and Knowledge
Ashok shared his thoughts on how the experience at Chennai helped him build valuable knowledge. “There’s a lot of stuff that we learned that was really cool. For example, black soil and red soil and how those pitches behave and things like that. I think those are the big takeaways for me and it’s just kind of building my library as a cricketer which is probably the most important thing,” he added.
Despite the importance of his training experience, Ashok remains humble about its impact on his performance. “Having been here before, and especially with Sriram (Krishnamurthy) and stuff in Chennai, it only creates a little bit more experience for myself, which I’m very grateful for,” he concluded.
Support System and Aspirations
Ashok has a strong support system, including his role model Shane Warne. He also looks up to Indian-origin spinners like Tarun Nethula and Ish Sodhi, who are currently New Zealand’s lead spinner in the T20 World Cup.
“If you ask me who my favourite legspinner of all time is, it’s tough to go past Shane Warne. But growing up in New Zealand, it was really cool to see, I’m really fortunate to have the relationship with him now, but someone like Ish is big for me in terms of being like a big brother,” Ashok expressed.
The upcoming three ODIs in India will be a significant stepping stone for Ashok as he aims to play Test cricket.
His preparation and knowledge gained from his time at the CSK academy are expected to give him an edge in the series beginning on January 11, 2026, in Baroda.
For fans of both teams, this ODI series promises exciting encounters between Ashok’s unique bowling style and India’s formidable batting lineup. Stay tuned for updates from the upcoming matches!