Ashwin Explains Why Player-Captain Role at Dublin Gladiators Suits Him

Ravichandran Ashwin says his new job as player-captain of the Dublin Gladiators in the European T20 Premier League fits where he wants his career to go. The franchise is co-owned by former India head coach Rahul Dravid.

A natural next step

Ashwin told Cricbuzz he has reached a stage where he wants to contribute beyond playing. He has been a coach-cum-captain in state-level cricket for a couple of years, so the link was straightforward. He said Dravid had seen him do the job and was confident he could handle it, calling it a crossover into what he would like to do next.

In 2024 Ashwin combined captaincy and mentoring when Dindigul Dragons won their first Tamil Nadu Premier League title. Since leaving the IPL he has wanted similar roles overseas. He has captained IPL sides in 28 matches and briefly led Tamil Nadu in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

The appointment also continues his comeback after knee surgery, which cost him a first Big Bash League stint. He is currently playing his first Major League Cricket season with the San Francisco Unicorns.

Leadership without a title

Ashwin believes leadership does not need a title and says he has acted as a leader for four or five years at every team he has joined. He added that he would make a hard call about himself if the team needed it, and that he feels in a good mental place as player or mentor.

Working with Dravid

Dravid’s coaching career peaked with India’s 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup triumph. Ashwin said Dravid does not want a hand in on-field decisions, so Ashwin will take responsibility for building the squad and running the cricket side. He called it new territory and said both want to leave their mark on the tournament.