10 November,2011 08:23 AM IST | | Vimal Kumar
When R Ashwin returned to the team hotel after bagging the man-of-the-match award on Test debut yesterday, a special man was waiting to greet the India off-spinner -- his coach -- former Tamil Nadu spinner, Sunil Subramaniam.
Hero on debut: R Ashwin
"We just hugged each other. We didn't say much when we met after his man-of-the-match effort. I have been talking to him on a daily basis. Certainly it is a dream day," said an elated, yet composed coach.
Subramaniam was a crafty left-arm spinner for Tamil Nadu in the 90s. He didn't duck a question that related to Harbhajan Singh, who Ashwin replaced in the Test team. "The media may portray it as a Harbhajan versus Ashwin battle, but I think both are different kind of bowlers.
In fact, I believe India is lucky to have both as they can be part of the same playing XI because they offer variety to the captain. I have done some research and discovered that S Venkataraghavan and Erapalli Prasanna performed better when they played together," said the spinner turned coach.
