Star cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin made headlines during a recent graduation ceremony at a private college in Chennai, where he addressed the status of Hindi in India. Ashwin sparked a thought-provoking discussion after asking students if anyone preferred to ask questions in Hindi, only to be met with silence. He then stated, “Hindi is not our national language; it is an official language,” emphasizing the distinction.

His comments coincided with World Hindi Day, which celebrates the Hindi language and its cultural significance. Ashwin’s remarks ignited a debate on language in India, particularly in Tamil Nadu, where the use of Hindi has been a sensitive topic. He noted the different reactions from the audience when he mentioned Hindi compared to Tamil, which received a loud cheer.

Additionally, Ashwin reflected on his career, revealing that he never pursued the captaincy despite speculation. He explained, “When someone says I can’t do it, I wake up to accomplish it; but if they say I can, I lose interest.” As one of India’s finest cricketers, Ashwin concluded his international career with 765 wickets across formats and remains an influential figure in Indian cricket.