Ravichandran Ashwin [Source: AFP]Ravichandran Ashwin has always been known as one of the most honest and fearless cricketers of his time. The former CSK star often speaks openly about his thoughts and experiences, no matter who is involved. Recently, Ravichandran Ashwin shared an interesting story that showed a different, more “brutal” side of his former teammate MS Dhoni, who is usually seen as calm and composed.MS Dhoni Faced R Ashwin In 2009 Challenger TrophyIn a recent video by Star Sports, Ravichandran Ashwin talked about an old incident from the 15th NKP Salve Challenger Trophy held in Nagpur in 2009. During that tournament, Ashwin was playing for India Red, while Dhoni was leading India Blue.Notably, in the final match, Ashwin managed to dismiss Dhoni. The wicket came when Ishant Sharma took a catch at mid-off. Naturally, Ashwin celebrated the moment with great excitement because dismissing a big player like MS Dhoni was a huge achievement for him at that stage of his career.“He was out twice against our team in one final where Ishaat Sharma caught my bowling catch during mid-off but before that he hit his batting shot on deep cover while diving,” he said.Interestingly, even before the final, the two teams had faced each other earlier in the tournament. In that match, Ishant Sharma dismissed Dhoni again, and Ashwin took the catch at deep cover. Once again, he celebrated the moment with enthusiasm.However, Dhoni reacted in a surprising way. As Ashwin recalled, Dhoni said, " Seriously? What's there to celebrate this much." This response showed a rare, sharp side of Dhoni that fans do not often see.Ravichandran Ashwin Gives Honest ReplyRavichandran Ashwin, however, did not hold back. He replied honestly, saying that taking Dhoni’s wicket was like a dream for him. He also added that such performances could help him get noticed and possibly earn a place in the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) team.“I told him that it was my dream to get your (dhoni) wicket, if I get the chance to dismiss you then i will get the chance to play in CSK”, Ashwin said.Watch the video here:Star Sports @StarSportsIndia A 'yellovely' bond! 💛 Ravichandran Ashwin reveals how he broke into the #CSK squad with a special MS Dhoni twist! 🏏 #TATAIPL Revenge Week 2026 👉 #CSKvMI | Sat, May 2, 6:30 PM May 1, 2026, 10:01 PM It is important to note that MS Dhoni is widely known for his cool and composed nature on the field. He rarely shows anger or reacts strongly, which is why this incident felt unusual to many fans. Notably, Ashwin’s story gave a glimpse of a more competitive and intense side of Dhoni that people don’t often get to see. Soon after this incident, Ashwin’s dream came true. In 2010, he was picked by CSKfor ₹12 lakh. Later, in 2011, his value increased significantly, and he earned ₹3.19 crore. The Bond Between R Ashwin And MS DhoniDespite that moment on the field, R Ashwin and MS Dhoni share a strong and respectful bond. Their relationship grew during their time together at CSK and also while playing for the Indian team. Ashwin started as a local Chennai player in 2008 and became a key part of CSK’s success between 2010 and 2015, winning two IPL titles under Dhoni’s captaincy.After playing for other teams for several years, R Ashwin returned to CSK after nine years, this time being bought for ₹10 crore. However, this comeback season did not go as planned, as he took only seven wickets in nine matches with a higher economy rate.Finally, eight months after retiring from international cricket, Ashwin decided to end his IPL career last August.Also Read: Yesha Sagar Breaks Silence On Sameer Rizvi Controversy
