Colombo: Former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara has revealed an unusual superstition followed by legendary off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin during his playing days, offering fans a glimpse into the lighter side of the veteran all-rounder’s career. Pujara said Ashwin would rely on him as a good-luck charm whenever he was looking for wickets.
The revelation came during the ongoing second Test between India and Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. Speaking on Sony Sports, Pujara recalled how Ashwin would ask him to perform a specific ritual before bowling an over. The former India spinner later reacted to the story on social media with emojis after the clip went viral.
Ashwin had a unique ritual before bowling
According to Pujara, Ashwin had a rather unusual routine whenever he was preparing to bowl.
The off-spinner would ask Pujara to take his cap and hand it over to the umpire. While the action itself appeared completely ordinary, Ashwin apparently believed that Pujara performing the task could bring him luck and help him take a wicket.
“When Ashwin used to come to bowl, he wanted me to take his cap and give it to the umpire. Whenever he wasn’t getting any wickets, he would look around the field in search of me,” Pujara said while speaking about his former teammate.
Pujara added that Ashwin believed the ritual could improve his chances of making a breakthrough.
“He felt that if I took the cap from him and gave it to the umpire, he might just have a chance of getting a wicket,” Pujara explained.
The story gives an entertaining insight into the relationship between two players who were important members of India’s Test team for several years.
Ashwin reacts after Pujara’s revelation
Pujara’s comments quickly attracted attention on social media after the video was shared online.
Ashwin himself joined the conversation by reposting the video on his X account, formerly known as Twitter. Rather than offering a lengthy explanation or denying the story, the former India all-rounder responded with a couple of emojis.
His reaction added another layer of humour to the incident.
Ashwin’s response also suggested that he was happy to embrace the old memory rather than take the revelation too seriously. For fans who followed India’s Test side during the period when Pujara and Ashwin were regulars, the story offered a nostalgic reminder of their time together in the dressing room.
Pujara and Ashwin were key members of India’s Test team
Pujara and Ashwin spent years playing alongside each other for India, particularly in Test cricket.
While their roles were very different, both became central figures in India’s highly successful home Test campaigns.
Pujara was known for his patience and ability to occupy the crease for long periods. His defensive technique and concentration made him one of India’s most dependable Test batters during his international career.
Ashwin, meanwhile, became one of the most successful spinners in Indian cricket history. His ability to take wickets with different variations, combined with his batting skills, made him a valuable all-rounder for the team.
Their contrasting personalities and playing styles also made their partnership in the dressing room particularly interesting.
Pujara’s latest revelation shows that their relationship extended beyond cricketing responsibilities, with Ashwin apparently developing his own small rituals around his bowling.
Ashwin finished international career with 765 wickets
Ashwin’s superstition becomes even more amusing when viewed against the scale of his international achievements.
The former India star finished his international career with 765 wickets across all three formats, according to NDTV. He also made significant contributions with the bat throughout his career.
For a player who regularly produced match-winning performances, the idea of relying on a teammate to perform a particular ritual before bowling provides a fascinating glimpse into the human side of elite sport.
Superstitions are not unusual in cricket. Players often develop routines involving equipment, clothing, preparation or specific actions before important moments. Such habits can provide a sense of familiarity and confidence, particularly in a sport where small changes can have a major psychological impact.
Ashwin’s apparent belief in Pujara’s cap ritual was therefore less about logic and more about personal confidence.
Pujara reveals what happened when Ashwin was searching for wickets
The most interesting part of Pujara’s story was Ashwin’s reaction when he was not taking wickets.
Pujara said Ashwin would look around the field for him if he was struggling to make a breakthrough.
That meant the spinner was not simply following the ritual before the start of an innings or spell. According to Pujara, Ashwin could actively search for his former teammate when wickets were not coming.
It suggests that the ritual had become a familiar part of their time together.
For Pujara, who spent much of his career close to the action at slip and other catching positions, being asked to collect Ashwin’s cap may have become an ordinary occurrence.
Years later, however, the story has emerged as an entertaining anecdote for cricket fans.
A glimpse into India’s old dressing room
Stories like Pujara’s are valuable because they reveal aspects of the Indian dressing room that spectators rarely see.
International cricket is usually associated with pressure, competition and high-profile performances. Behind the scenes, however, players spend long periods travelling and training together.
That environment naturally creates friendships, jokes and personal routines.
Pujara’s story about Ashwin shows how small traditions can develop within a team and become part of players’ match-day habits.
It also illustrates the trust that can exist between teammates. Ashwin apparently believed that Pujara’s involvement in the ritual could help him find wickets, while Pujara was willing to play along.
Such interactions can contribute to a positive dressing-room atmosphere, particularly during long Test tours.
Both players have now retired from international cricket
The story carries additional significance because both Pujara and Ashwin have retired from international cricket.
Pujara and Ashwin were once regular members of India’s Test side, but their international careers have now ended. Their memories from that period therefore offer fans an opportunity to look back at an important chapter in Indian cricket.
Ashwin’s retirement brought an end to a remarkable international career in which he established himself as one of India’s premier spinners.
Pujara, meanwhile, was one of the defining Test batters of his generation for India.
Although neither player is currently involved in the international setup, their contributions continue to be discussed whenever India’s Test history is revisited.
Ashwin’s impact went beyond bowling
Ashwin’s career was not built solely around his bowling.
The Chennai-born cricketer developed into a highly capable lower-order batter and often played important innings for India, particularly in Test cricket.
His ability to contribute in both departments helped India construct balanced Test teams, especially on turning pitches where his off-spin could become a major weapon.
His tactical understanding of batting and bowling also became a defining feature of his career.
That makes Pujara’s revelation all the more amusing. A player renowned for his detailed analysis of the game apparently also had a small superstitious routine that he trusted when searching for wickets.
The lighter side of a legendary career
Ashwin was often regarded as one of the most cerebral cricketers of his generation.
He regularly discussed tactics, match-ups and technical aspects of bowling in considerable detail. His analytical approach became a major part of his identity.
Against that background, Pujara’s story about a good-luck ritual offers a lighter perspective.
Even the most analytical athletes can have habits that are difficult to explain rationally. Such routines can become psychologically important without necessarily being based on evidence.
For Ashwin, having Pujara hand over his cap may simply have provided a familiar feeling before an important bowling spell.
Whether it actually resulted in wickets is impossible to measure. But the belief itself was apparently strong enough for Ashwin to look for Pujara when he needed a breakthrough.
The timing of the revelation
Pujara’s story emerged while India were involved in their second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo.
The current Indian side is led by Shubman Gill, with the team attempting to complete a 2-0 series victory after winning the opening Test in Galle by 165 runs.
During the third day’s play in Colombo, Sri Lanka were fighting to stay alive in the match after India declared their first innings at 503/9.
Sonal Dinusha was unbeaten on 85 when rain forced an early end to the day’s play. Sri Lanka finished at 265/8, still 239 runs behind India’s first-innings total.
The discussion about Ashwin therefore provided a lighter moment during a Test match dominated by the battle between India’s bowlers and Sri Lanka’s lower order.
India’s current generation carrying the legacy forward
While Ashwin and Pujara are no longer part of India’s international setup, the current Test team is attempting to build its own identity.
Shubman Gill has taken over the leadership role, with younger players increasingly being given responsibility.
The transition has naturally prompted comparisons with India’s previous generation.
Ashwin’s retirement, along with the departures of several senior players, marked the end of an era for Indian Test cricket. Pujara’s recollections offer fans a reminder of the personalities who helped India establish a formidable record, particularly at home.
Their experiences can also provide valuable lessons for the next generation, even if the players themselves are no longer on the field.
Superstitions remain part of sport
Pujara’s story also highlights how common superstitions are among professional athletes.
Cricket players often develop routines before batting, bowling or fielding. Some prefer a particular piece of equipment, while others follow specific movements or rituals before facing a delivery.
These habits can help players settle into a familiar rhythm.
For someone operating under the enormous pressure of international cricket, even a small ritual can offer psychological comfort.
Ashwin’s cap routine with Pujara appears to have been one such habit.
It may not have had any measurable effect on his bowling, but the confidence it provided could have been valuable.
Conclusion
Cheteshwar Pujara’s revelation about Ravichandran Ashwin has offered cricket fans a rare and amusing glimpse into the former India all-rounder’s superstitious side. According to Pujara, Ashwin would ask him to take his cap and hand it to the umpire before bowling because he believed Pujara could be his good-luck charm.
Pujara also recalled that whenever Ashwin was struggling to take wickets, the spinner would look around the field for him. The story quickly went viral, prompting Ashwin himself to repost the clip on X with a couple of emojis.
Both Pujara and Ashwin have now retired from international cricket, but their contributions remain an important part of India’s Test history. Ashwin ended his career with 765 international wickets across formats, while Pujara established himself as one of India’s most dependable Test batters.
The anecdote may not reveal anything about Ashwin’s technical brilliance, but it does show the lighter side of a legendary cricketer and the strong bonds that existed inside India’s Test dressing room.