Ravichandran Ashwin was smitten by Prithi Narayanan during high school and later proposed to her at his favourite place.
One of the greatest bowlers of the Indian cricket team, Ravichandran Ashwin, is widely regarded as one of the most prolific spinners. Ashwin started as an opening batsman, but due to limited success, he turned into an off-break bowler. He has been a part of the Indian team that won historical matches like the 2011 Cricket World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy.
Ashwin is also the highest-rated Indian bowler in Test cricket and has contributed heavily to the Indian cricket team in other game formats. On December 18, 2024, Ashwin announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket. Behind Ashwin’s tremendous professional feat stands a woman whom he has loved since high school.
Yes, it is his wife, Prithi Narayanan, who had seen his game from the initial stages and has always been his biggest cheerleader. Ashwin and Prithi’s love story is a tale of old-school romance and destiny playing its part in the most amazing manner. Let us read on to know how they fell in love and started their forever journey.
Ravichandran Ashwin and Prithi Narayanan went to the same school, Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan School in Chennai. It was only in middle school when Prithi was transferred to R Ashwin's class. When Ashwin saw Prithi for the first time, he was smitten by her. However, throughout the school, he never had the courage to confess his feelings to Prithi.
Ashwin moved to various schools to focus on cricket, but the duo stayed in touch around birthdays and neighbourhood events. As time passed, Ravichandran Ashwin and Prithi Narayanan became close friends and enrolled in the same college, SSN College of Engineering, Chennai. Years later, Prithi and Ashwin bumped into each other as he was managing Chennai Super Kings’ account, and he got a contract with the team.
Ashwin and Prithi have known each other since grade 7, and the entire school knew about his crush on Prithi. When the cricketer met Prithi after years, sparks flew again. The cricketer popped the million-dollar question in the most unconventional manner. He took Prithi to Chemplast Cricket Ground, where he first started playing, and the place was extremely special to him. He dropped the big question during their casual conversation. In an interview with Jio Cinema, Prithi recalled Ashwin’s proposal and said:
“Once he took me to a cricket ground and he's a straight shooter. He said, 'I've kinda liked you all my life and it hasn't changed over 10 years. We're adults and let's try this'.”
In 2011, the couple finally decided to take the next step. Ravichandran Ashwin and Prithi Narayanan had opted for a low-key engagement ceremony, followed by a grand wedding. The couple had tied the knot decked up as per the traditional Tamil wedding customs. Ravichandran Ashwin and Prithi Narayanan embraced parenthood with the arrival of their two daughters, Akhira and Aadhya.
Ashwin’s hectic schedule with constant tours left him with very little time for his family. Despite all that, Prithi never lost her cool and supported him in his journey. As a result, they've been married for more than a decade now and are one of the most adored couples in the cricket fraternity.
Ravichandran Ashwin and Prithi Narayanan’s friendship paved the way for their love story. Here’s wishing them many more joyous years together.
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