Andrews kids bowled over by Ashwin

It was a Saturday night fever that will be cherished by several people and for different reasons. The 30th anniversary bash organised by St Andrews School in their Bowenpally premises was loaded with excitement, particularly for the students, who could meet the alumni who have made a name for themselves across the seven seas.

However, the man who took spotlight was the current Team India magician, Ravichandran Ashwin, whose match-winning pyrotechnics are helping the team on its resurgence path. The interactive session the spinner had with students was the crème de la crème of the celebrations.

If the youngsters were all ears when he went down memory lane recalling his schooldays, the cricketer himself was patience personified while answering queries by the boys and girls who were fortunate enough to get an audience with the contemporary ace in Team India’s pack.

Of course, much to the delight of the school elders, Ashwin seized the opportunity to drive home strong messages to the gadget-inspired generation. He lamented that at a time when the youngsters would be better off on the ground when away from academics, they were hooked onto play-station in the cozy comforts of their rooms. He said they should be equally focussed on sports because not only could they stay physically and mentally refreshed but could also contemplate a career in sports if they were endowed with the talent to go places.

Ashwin sent the crowd into peals of laughter when he said, ‘I was not particularly good as a student. In fact, while I was pursuing sports activities outdoors and trying to improve my cricketing skills, my dear dad would complete my homework. ‘

In the same breadth, he exhorted every child to realise the importance of education, which was ‘foremost for every development either of the individual or an institution. It is the foundation on which one makes a name or a career and stays there.’

The crafty off-spinner, who stood out with his beaming smile and the casuals he wore, said he felt privileged to be present on a day when St Andrews was scaling yet another inspirational milestone. He triumphed in the mini-quiz that was organised to commemorate the three-decade celebration.

Of course, the wily bowler was caught on the wrong foot time and again by the students who had come with the entire ammunition. That he answered each query with methodic precision gladdened the hearts of the youngsters, who went home richer with the experience.

Without getting into any controversies, the soft-spoken player pointed out that Mahendra Singh Dhoni was a matured but cool captain while Virat Kohli was aggressive in his obsession to outsmart the opponents. Each has his way of achieving results, which was the main requirement for the team, he observed.

For one who has surprised the best of batsmen, he sprang a surprise or two when he spoke about his role-models. ‘My dad, Steve Jobs and Rahul Dravid have been big influences,’ he says.

At the end of the day, what became evident was that the starry-eyed youngsters would be rooting for ‘our very own Ashwin’ when India take on South Africa in the third Test at Nagpur on Wednesday.

Ravichandran Ashwin may be dreaded by the batsmen from all over the crowd, but at St Andrews he won over hundreds of young admirers. That should be a great motivation for him to go for the kill against the Proteas.