Want to play Tests for New Zealand and IPL for CSK: U19 star Adithya Ashok

17-year-old Adithya Ashok, the New Zealand U19 star is one of the newest crops of Indian origin cricketers turning up for the small nation, which is rich in cricketing stories. Born in Vellore, Tamil Nadu to a nurse and a cricketer-turned-radiographer, Ashok came to New Zealand when he was four years old and the love for the game was instilled by his father, who made a cricket pitch for him in the backyard.

He transformed into a brilliant leg-spinner, who captained the New Zealand U13 team to the Indoor Cricket World Cup in Australia in 2015. He was helped by Tarun Nethula, the former Kiwi leggie who played five one-day games in 2012, in growing his skill of wrist spin.

“My bowling style, my mentality is all about being consistent and disciplined. I’m trying to be the kind of bowler who does not leaks runs. It’s a cliché associated with legspinners to be wicket-takers, but I’d rather stay tight,” he told ESPN Cricinfo.

Want to play IPL for Chennai Super Kings: Adithya Ashok

The leggie has only two goals in his life. One is to play Test cricket for the New Zealand team and become a successful cricketer and get a chance to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL), for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), given that Ashok hails from Tamil Nadu itself. He was born in the Vellore district of the state before moving to New Zealand with his family.

He had picked up back-to-back three-wicket hauls in the warmup games of the ICC U19 World Cup, with one of those coming against the Indian team. In the first match of the tournament, he picked 3/38 against Sri Lanka, a match NZ U19 won in the last over. Ashok further spoke about his biggest admiration in the New Zealand senior team and his role model.

He named skipper Kane Williamson and said, “I admire Kane Williamson and but my role model is Roger Federer. His longevity and success are amazing but the best thing is just how humble and down to earth he is. He’s a complete gentleman, goes about his job without a fuss.”