Ravichandran Ashwin, one of India’s finest spinners, recently opened up about his unique communication style with fast bowler Mohammed Shami. Hailing from Chennai, Ashwin often found himself using Tamil to convey his strategies, even to a teammate who didn’t fully understand the language. In his new talk show, Ash ki Baat, he speaks about one incident with India’s pacer Mohammed Shami.
“Yes, okay, okay” – Shami’s simple response
IAshwin was asked if he used Tamil while captaining Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), particularly when communicating with Shami. Ashwin recalled how he would indeed talk to Shami in Tamil. Shami, despite not being fluent in the language, would simply respond with, “Yes, okay, okay,” and understood what needed to be done. Ashwin remarked that Shami didn’t need detailed explanations; his ability to grasp instructions, even if conveyed in a different language, was truly special.
The Mohali Test match moment
Ashwin shared an insightful story from a Test match in Mohali against England. During the match, Adil Rashid and Chris Woakes were at the crease, and Ashwin, unsure if his Hindi would effectively convey his thoughts, asked Shami for his input. Ashwin asked, “What are you feeling? Which line do you think we should bowl? What’s his weakness?” Shami, with his typical confidence, replied, “Tell me, I will bowl it.”
Despite language barriers, Shami trusted Ashwin’s instructions and had a plan in mind. Ashwin praised this quality in Shami, noting how he was always ready to execute a strategy with minimal fuss.
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