'Crossover into what I'd like to do next': Ashwin on captain-coach role

Taking a step beyond being just a player, R Ashwin is ready to take up a captain-coach role in the new European T20 Premier League, calling it a "crossover into what I'd like to do next".

Speaking after the first ETPL player draft, Ashwin, who will lead the Rahul Dravid-owned Dublin Guardians, feels that the new role is an extension of what he's been doing at the franchise level of late.

"I think I'm at that stage of my career where I'd like to contribute more than just being a player," he said in a media interaction. "And for whatever it is worth, even if it's a state-run league, I've been a coach-cum-captain for the last couple of years that I've played my cricket there. So, it was just a straight connection.

"And Rahul (Dravid) had seen me do the job and he understands what I do back home for club cricket. So, I think he was pretty confident that I can do it. It's just a crossover into what I'd like to do next.

In 2024, playing a similar dual role, he took Dindigul Dragons to their maiden Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) title. He has been eyeing a similar role in overseas leagues ever since he retired from the IPL.

Ashwin also eyes it as a comeback after knee surgery, which ruled him out of a maiden BBL appearance. Currently in his first MLC stint with San Francisco Unicorns, he has only played one game so far.

Aside from the TNPL, Ashwin has prior top-level T20 captaincy experience as well, leading 28 times in the IPL, and briefly in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Tamil Nadu as well. However, merging it with a mentoring role could be a fresh challenge. Ashwin, though, feels it's just an extension of the same set of responsibilities.

"I think leadership doesn't have to necessarily come with the title. I've done that over the last 4-5 years in whichever team I've been a part of. Even in the IPL and after that, state leagues and my club teams.

"Which is something I really enjoy doing. So, if that means I have to make even a decision about myself, I wouldn't be thinking twice to make that on myself. So, I am really in a good space with respect to my cricketing career.

"If that be as a player, mentor or whatever that is. I am really finding myself in a good mental space. So, I will make the right decision for the team".

Ashwin joins forces with Dravid, whose illustrious playing career was followed by a T20 World Cup win as coach. However, he made it clear that Dravid won't be part of the cricketing side of operations, leaving it to Ashwin to handle completely.

"I think freedom is very important for people to be on the side (of running) a cricket team on the field.

"And I don't think we've had too many issues at all so far. Rahul has been very clear that he doesn't want to involve himself as much in cricketing decisions, which is why I'm at the centre of it. I'll be taking responsibility for it and I also have to construct the teams.

"It is new territory for all of us. We are looking forward to it and hopefully in the long run make a difference. Rahul and I both will have our sincere stamp on whatever we do in this tournament".

The ETPL is expected to be a breakthrough for associate cricket, with players from Ireland, Scotland and Netherlands getting a bigger opportunity to showcase their T20 skills, especially as their representation has historically been limited in other top T20 leagues. At the draft, the Guardians picked four players from Ireland, and one each from Netherlands and Scotland.

Ashwin feels that with the Olympics in a couple of years, teams from this league could play a crucial role in helping cricket become a global affair. Aside from players from these three countries, each team will have four players from other countries, which Ashwin sees as an opportunity to share top-tier knowledge, work ethics and practice techniques.

"All these things will be of huge help to people that don't play this high-intensity tournament every single year," Ashwin said. "And I am sure this is going to be an annual affair which will give them a nice launchpad into adapting to high-level performing cricket under a high-duress environment. So, it's going to be very, very good for them in that fashion".

Ashwin added that for cricket to become a global and Olympic sport, the "shorter the game, the more viable it is". He foresees it becoming bigger with a better sample size of players, which in hand, also helps the several leagues that run through the year.

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