New Zealand is touring India with a bunch of new players. Key players got rest for the ODI series as the team management wants fresh legs before the interesting T20I challenge. There is a huge gap in experience between the two ODI series. India came with their best, and New Zealand has almost a second-string ODI team, which quite affected the significance of the series and made it easy for the Indian team. Though Risabh Pant again missed an opportunity to play for the ODI side after sustaining an injury. Dhruv Jurel joined the team in his place.
New Zealand’s Surprise Pick Aditya Ashok: Who is Ashok?
New Zealand included leg-spinner Aditya Ashok in their playing XI for the first ODI. The visitors are banking on the Indian-origin spinner to create impact against familiar conditions and batters, making his selection one of the major talking points of the match.
Aditya Ashok was born in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, and lived in India until the age of four before his family moved to Auckland. It was in New Zealand that his cricketing journey truly took shape. Progressing through Auckland’s domestic structure, Ashok steadily built a reputation as a disciplined leg-spinner.
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Ashok’s breakthrough came when he represented New Zealand at the 2020 ICC Under-19 World Cup. His performances there accelerated his rise, and he soon earned a senior call-up. He made his T20 international debut in December 2021 and has since been part of New Zealand’s plans across formats.
Beyond cricket, Ashok’s Indian connection is deeply personal. He is a devoted admirer of South Indian superstar Rajinikanth. A tattoo on his hand bears the words “En Vazhi Thani Vazhi” (“My path is my own”), a famous dialogue from Padayappa.
The film holds emotional value for Ashok, as it was the last movie he watched with his grandfather before his passing.
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With strong Indian roots, growing international experience, and New Zealand’s tactical backing, Aditya Ashok stands out as a key subplot in the first ODI—symbolising both New Zealand’s faith in spin and the increasingly global nature of modern international cricket.
