'Be funky': Why Dhoni kept giving the same advice to Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin revealed the invaluable piece of advice that former India captain MS Dhoni has given him over the years. Dhoni, regarded as one of the most successful captains in cricketing history, has built a reputation for himself for his ability to bring the best out of the players. Ashwin has also enjoyed immense success in the blue jersey for the Indian team and the yellow jersey for CSK under the guidance of Dhoni. The veteran off-spinner opened up about the feedback he had been receiving from the 43-year-old.

Ashwin said that the emphasis of Dhoni's core guidance has been on asking him 'to be funky and innovative'. Notably, Dhoni has played a huge role in how Ashwin has approached the game over the years.The veteran off-spinner recently completed 500 Test wickets and became only the 2nd Indian after Anil Kumble and 9th overall bowler to achieve the feat. Ashwin is known for his street-smart approach and his ability to outfox the batters with his spin and variations.

The seasoned spinner revealed how Dhoni's pivotal advice has remained constant over the years.

"He (Dhoni) always said, 'Your greatest strength is to try new things, to be funky. So, do not change that for anybody else.' I met him in Dubai after a came between Delhi against CSK and I asked him, 'How you find it? I have developed that back spin.' He said, 'You are always like that. It has been your strength. Remember, you continue to be funky. Remember, you continue to work on your variations'. I was like, this was what he told me 15 years ago," Ashwin shared on RevzSports.