CSK’s R Ashwin signs MOU with Tamil Nadu government to promote sports in tier II and tier III cities

After a blistering career at the international level, former Indian ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin didn’t just return to his original IPL franchise (Chennai Super Kings), but he is ready to step in big. In a two-day Tamil Nadu Global Tourism Summit held at Mamallapuram near Chennai, Ashwin exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for a collaborative initiative, Carrom Ball and Marketing PVT Limited, for sports infrastructure development in tier II and tier III cities in Tamil Nadu.

The ₹22,765 crores secured by the Tamil Nadu government will ensure 66,000 potential jobs in the tourism sector after signing 127 MOUs. But there is a significant share in terms of developing sports infrastructure as well. Avid Sports Holdings signed an MoU to invest ₹6,200 crore in a multi-purpose sports stadium, creating about 1,500 jobs. Mayakadal Adventures also expressed its interest and proposed ₹283 crore in astro-tourism projects in Ramanathapuram.

Major proposals include a ₹100-crore special area development authority for Mamallapuram to create world-class tourism infrastructure, and a SIPCOT-led programme to identify and develop tourism hubs across the State. Kodai Heights will also invest ₹300 crore in a luxury hotel in the Dindigul district. Imagicaa World signed an MoU worth ₹ 650 crore to set up a theme park. Vietnam-based Vingroup also announced plans to establish VinWonders amusement parks and a luxury hotel in Tamil Nadu. Separately, Amritanandamayi Mandir Trust proposed a 75-acre heritage and cultural complex near Mahabalipuram with an investment of ₹328 crore.

“In the past five years, about 128.97 crore domestic tourists and around 47 lakh foreign tourists have visited Tamil Nadu. But this is not enough. We want more tourists to come to Tamil Nadu. Therefore, people from other States and countries must visit Tamil Nadu in greater numbers,” CM MK Stalin said.

The spinner has contributed primarily to sports infrastructure through training centres, academies, and guidance programmes. In 2024, Ashwin rejoined the India Cements group and took charge of the cricketing operations at Chennai Super Kings’ high performance cengre in Navalur, near Chennai. He has previously worked with India Cements till 2016. Ashwin also founded the Gen-Next Cricket Academy, emphasizing infrastructure expansion to reduce travel barriers for young cricketers.

In 2017, Ashwin’s academy spread its wings, opening new centres at Pon Vidyashram schools in Chennai locations like Valasaravakkam, Injambakkam, and Kolapakkam, offering programs such as Weekend, Vision 20, and High-Performance training. He also partnered with Greater Chennai Corporation under the CITIIS schemes to train 30-60 students of classes 6-8 in cricket at GCC schools, providing kits and coaching two days a week for 11 months.