I Have the Streets: A Kutti Cricket Story by R. Ashwin

Many autobiographies tend to rush and skip to the part where the cricketer is already established or has achieved some sort of recognition. But Ashwin goes the unconventional way. He gives his childhood due acknowledgement. You get know about his health struggles. He talks about the relationship with his Appa, which is endearing.He fondly remembers his childhood friends with whom he has grown up playing cricket on the streets. Just like all of us, each one of his friends has a unique characteristic which Ashwin has beautifully narrated, adding an element of humor and relatability.The writing is simple, concise & to the point. Collaborating with Sidharth Monga is a winning move.Ashwin has a reputation of being raw and brutally honest. He is known to stand for what he thought was right, even if it meant a professional setback.These traits have been inculcated in him from his childhood, which you get to know through various instances shared in the book.Cricket anecdotes are plenty as you would expect from an autobiography. He talks in detail about his relationship with MSD and how it evolved over time.The writing is characterized by an equal respect and acknowledgement for other art forms in the game, particularly bowling. He writes “Then Irfan errs, as bowlers do because they are not machines'. This is writing at its finest. It will give the upcoming generation a balanced perspective towards the game, which is the highlight of the book for me.The book ends with the 2011 World Cup win. We don't get enough on Ashwin's journey as a Test cricketer. Neither do we get to know about his process and preparation for famous tours such as the BGT. This is my only grievance from the book. I do hope Ashwin has a second edition planned for us. This one is a must read though.

The book is a thrilling sports script that seamlessly blends the excitement of cricket with a rich narrative and well-developed characters. It caters to cricket enthusiasts and readers who appreciate a compelling story about personal growth, teamwork, and resilience.

This is an absolute treat from the beginning to end. From the Wall's foreword to the world cup finals, I loved the book so much. I understood Ash much better after this book. The fierce competitor, straight shooter and a continuous learner. It is so interesting to see how even a champion bowler like Ash go through the struggle to make his own identity. I enjoyed the RUCA kutty stories so much - the soup stall, a free advice after he couldn't win it for CSK on the last ball, and the XDX. I had no clue that Ani and Ash played so much together and ofcourse there had to be a mankad :-).I also loved the way that Ash wrote about so many things that he tried and failed - volunteering for the super over, failing to score runs, not getting picked in CSK 11 etc.Also, the role that his entire family played in his career is amazing. From his Thatha to his Dad everyone had one goal in life - which was fulfilled by you.The sodukku ball will always be your own. I'm really looking forward to the next version of this book. I want to see you end that book with a WTC win. Go Ash!

Ash is renowned for bowling the tricky carrom ball and bamboozling his opponents - his Kutti story delivered in his inimical style , has also delivered a carrom ball to his countless fans and bemused some of us since it only covers till circa 2011 , while being a very graphic description of his childhood days . Ash to recall his childhood memories in vivid details , seems to have maintained some sort of diary or possess a photographic recall. But both the author and the Ghostwriter have failed completely to mention this is only Kutti Story Vol 1 and that it covers the period till 2011 only and not beyond into the current time . Ideally the title or the author's foreward should have highlighted this disclaimer for the buyer - PENGUIN has done a grave disservice to hide this. Nevertheless its a good read for all the fans of the very articulate Ash.

Inspiring book