Ravichandran Ashwin’s announcement of retirement from the Indian Premier League earlier today has left fans nostalgic, not only about his cricketing journey but also about the personal chapters that shaped him. Among them, his love story with wife Prithi Narayanan stands out—an endearing tale that began in school, found its spark again years later, and interestingly, had a Chennai Super Kings (CSK) connection at its heart.
A bond that began in school
Behind every cricketing superstar, there is often a story of love that grows quietly away from the limelight. For Ashwin and his wife Prithi, their journey began long before his IPL fame. The two first crossed paths during middle school, when they were classmates and friends. Over time, Ashwin moved schools to focus on cricket, and though their lives took different directions, they stayed in touch occasionally—whether it was wishing each other on birthdays or meeting around their neighborhood.
The CSK connection
Years later, destiny brought them back together, and the IPL played a silent but powerful role. Prithi was working with an events company that happened to handle the account of CSK, the franchise where Ashwin was carving his name as a young spinner. That professional link turned out to be the turning point in their story. For her, it was like rediscovering a familiar friend, but this time with a new spark.
Recalling the moment, Prithi once shared, “I met him again when I was handling CSK’s account and suddenly I saw him as a six-footer. We knew each other from Grade 7.”
Also READ: Ravichandran Ashwin retires from Indian Premier League (IPL)
A proposal straight from the heart
Ashwin, known for his sharp cricketing brain, is also remembered by Prithi as a ‘straight shooter’ when it came to matters of the heart. One day, he took her to a cricket ground—a setting that defined his life—and proposed with the honesty that only he could bring.
“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,'” Prithi had revealed.
It was simple, heartfelt, and deeply personal—exactly the kind of proposal one would expect from someone who values clarity as much as Ashwin.
What started as childhood familiarity blossomed into lifelong companionship, with CSK unknowingly acting as the bridge that reunited them. Today, Ashwin and Prithi stand as one of cricket’s most admired couples, their story proving that sometimes, love finds its way back through the most unexpected connections—even an IPL franchise.
