The 37-year-old Chennai man is among the finest thinkers of the game and he has found a way to constantly reinvent himself, resulting in a bagful of wickets in the longest format. He described himself as argumentative but only in pursuit of new perspectives. "Anil bhai and Rahul (Dravid) bhai briefly mentioned that it is very tough to win an argument with me. It is true because I believe argument is one of the greatest pathways to excellence. "Argument is never with the person. It is always with the true learning that comes at the end of it," he said as Kumble watched on from the stage. Ashwin also thanked a host of Tamil Nadu greats, who were in attendance, including his first First-Class captain S Badrinath and former batter S Sharath, who is now an India selector. Ashwin, who is especially lethal against the left-handers, recalled how Sharath helped him become a better bowler against the southpaws.

"A lot of people spoke about how I tormented left-handers day in and day out. My first tryst with left handers, Mr S Sharath is sitting in the front. Someone told me if you are that good an off-spinner try and get this man out. "I did get him out once, caught at slip and I played several more games with Sharath, he never got out to me again. That's the quality of the batter he was. I bowled to him a lot and hence became a far better bowler to the left-handers. Such is Ashwin's commitment to Tamil Nadu and club cricket that till date he makes himself available for domestic events when he is not on national duty. "This place has given me so much that I want to keep coming back here. People keep asking why do you want to go back. "Tomorrow, I might not be alive but my soul will be hanging around this place. This is what this place means to me," added Ashwin.

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