Ravichandran Ashwin Shares An Interesting Story About Sam Billings And Life Outside Cricket

Ravichandran Ashwin spoke about Sam Billings, the former Chennai Super Kings player, recently and what he said was shocking to many fans. Ashwin said that Sam Billings is not a typical cricketer. In his words, the English wicketkeeper batter is very rich and even has a significant portion of Kent. All this money notwithstanding, Ashwin complimented Billings for being a humble and down-to-earth individual. This comment has again cast light on the lifestyles of cricketers playing in the Indian Premier League and the way they deal with fame as well as cash.

Sam Billings was with various IPL sides but his career with the tournament never escalated to the extent that most envisioned from him. He initially entered the league with Delhi Daredevils currently called Delhi Capitals and played for them in 2016 and 2017. He was later recruited by Chennai Super Kings and became a part of one of the most successful teams of the league. His initial knock for CSK was superb where he hammered 56 runs from only 23 balls. That match had two fours and five sixes and gave spectators a hope that a new star has been born. But the ride thereafter was disappointing because he was not able to produce consistency. In the following nine matches, he only scored 52 runs and finished that season with an average of mere 13.50.

Ashwin had talked about the type of life Billings is from. He told that in India most families maintain cooks or maids at home but in nations like England it is not common to have an individual chef. Ashwin stated that Billings has housekeeping and laundry people at home. He pointed out that it reflects the extent of wealth Billings is from. But Ashwin was quick to point out that the English cricketer does not brag and is still a humble individual despite all the luxury in his life.

The England wicketkeeper batter has featured in 30 games in his IPL career and has a total of 503 runs. His strike rate remained below 130 and his average remained less than 20 which is very low for a batter in this format. Due to this poor performance he was unable to become a regular member of any IPL team. He played for Delhi Daredevils and then shifted to Chennai Super Kings and eventually represented Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2022 season. His career in the tournament indicates how hard it is for overseas players to maintain their position within a team.

Ashwin also elaborated on this point in detail. He said that there is a lot of pressure on overseas players in the IPL. Each team can only play four foreign players in the playing eleven. This makes the competition very high because one or two failures can lead to losing your spot. Ashwin further stated that the league's professionalism and expectations are extremely challenging and a cricketer has to play well in nearly every game to remain in the team. Such pressure has put an end to the IPL careers of many players who have excelled in other competitions but failed to come to the limelight here.

Sam Billings has been successful in other tournaments and formats beyond the IPL. He has performed well in leagues such as the ILT20 and demonstrated that he is a cricketer who can play good cricket. However the IPL requires immediate results and an ongoing influence on matches which he was unable to provide. This is the reason why his career in the league appears very mediocre despite him being a good cricketer.

Ashwin's appreciation of Billings also brings out how a few players are able to remain humble even if they hail from affluent and privilege families. Having a significant portion of Kent as an owner is not normal but Billings never allows this to influence his attitude towards teammates. Ashwin narrated this anecdote on his YouTube show Ash ki Baat and fans loved learning about the human side of a cricketer who frequently remains in the background.

Cricket fans usually view players only through their on-field performances but accounts like these reveal how their lives can be dissimilar off the field. Sam Billings might not have had a dream run in the IPL but he remains admired for his attitude and the manner in which he conducts himself. Ashwin's words also tell us that wealth and success do not necessarily transform an individual and that one can live a simple life and have all the things one desires.

For young cricketers who aspire to play in the IPL, this tale provides a lesson. Performance and hard work alone can keep a player in the tournament. Overseas players particularly have to fit in within a short period of time and establish themselves since teams do not take too long to wait. Equally as crucial though is remaining humble and down to earth alongside scoring runs and taking wickets. It is the balancing act that creates an admired cricketer on and off the field.

The career of Sam Billings is perhaps not replete with huge IPL records but is laden with a message of dealing with pressure fame and money. The words of Ravichandran Ashwin have not just thrown light on his cricketing career but also on his personality as a man. Billings is still the epitome of how a player can be rich and privileged but humble and courteous towards others.