Cricket has a funny way of bringing stories full circle, and Adithya Ashok’s journey is proof of that. Imagine being born in India, moving across the world, and then coming back years later to play against your birth country on their home soil. That’s exactly what’s happening right now with Adithya Ashok in the first ODI in Vadodara.
Also Read: Another day, another record: Virat Kohli surpasses Sourav Ganguly in ODIs
Adithya Ashok was born in Vellore, Tamil Nadu. He didn’t stay long, though; his family packed up and moved to New Zealand when he was just four years old. Growing up in Auckland, he swapped the dusty streets of India for the green fields of New Zealand, but his love for cricket stuck. He started playing in school and local leagues, quickly realising he had a knack for spinning the ball.
His talent didn’t go unnoticed. Adithya first made waves representing New Zealand in the 2020 Under-19 World Cup. His sharp leg-breaks and tricky googlies caught the eye of selectors, marking him as one to watch. He worked hard in domestic cricket for Auckland and finally earned his dream debut for the Black Caps in 2023, playing both ODIs and T20Is.
Adithya isn't the first to walk this unique path. He follows in the footsteps of Ish Sodhi, another Indian-born leg spinner who moved to New Zealand and became a Black Caps legend. It really shows how poetic and perfect the world of sport can be, two spinners with almost identical stories, from different parts of India, finding their calling in the same Kiwi jersey.
It hasn’t all been smooth sailing. Just as his career was taking off, a serious back injury forced him into surgery, keeping him out of action for nearly a year. But he didn’t give up. In early 2025, he even spent time training at the Super Kings Academy in Chennai to master different pitches. Now, fully fit and touted as the long-term successor to Sodhi, Adithya Ashok is back where it all began.
