Ravichandran all in Readiness to Cheer for His Son Ashwin at Chepauk – News18

Dressed casually in a check shirt and loose trousers, Ravichandran took the lift from the media centre and commenced his walk to the exit gate of the stadium. Holding some T-shirts and an envelope, possibly carrying match tickets, he patiently responded to questions around his son Ashwin and the possibility of seeing him in action at the Chepauk on Sunday.

Ashwin senior has never missed watching his son’s game from the Chepauk stands and Sunday is going to be no different. While there is no confirmation on Ashwin making it to the Playing XI, father will anyway be there and continue with the tradition.

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“I see all his games at Chepauk. Will be coming here tomorrow too. It’s a World Cup match and a big occasion for us and him,” says Ravichandran.

He entertained numerous requests for photographs by camerapersons and commenced his walk only when the perfect shot was delivered. Did he speak to his son on making it to the World Cup squad and now possibly playing in front of home crowd in Chennai?

“No, no I don’t talk to him about cricket or the World Cup. I am very happy that he is getting a chance to play for India in a World Cup at home,” says Ravichandran, who himself played cricket at the club level.

The father feels it’s an opportunity which has come by god’s grace and the hard work his son continues to put in over the years.

“This chance I would say has come by god’s grace and also because of his merit and the belief which BCCI and team management has in him,” says Ravichandran.

This could well be Ashwin’s last appearance in a World Cup for India but the father feels he will continue to represent the country as long as the body allows.

“As long as he feels young and feels fit, he will play,” came the quick response.

Ravichandran didn’t wait for his son’s practice session to get underway and quietly left the premises in an auto rickshaw. The local TNCA officials reveal it’s his regular practice to visit the stadium and he has been a regular to Ashwin’s games right from his junior days.

“There used to be an old manual scoreboard in the stadium. All father would quietly sit behind that and watch their sons in action. Vijay Shankar’s father, Malolan Rangarajan’s father, Abhinav Mukund’s father… all of them watch their sons in action from behind the scoreboard,” says a veteran TNCA official.

There will not be an old scoreboard for Ashwin senior to hide behind on Sunday but the emotions would run high if his son takes field in front of a capacity and noisy crowd at the Chepauk.