Cricket: Following his 500th Test wicket achievement in Rajkot against England, Ravichandran Ashwin had to abruptly depart the team and rush back to Chennai to attend to his ailing mother. Despite this personal ordeal, the veteran off-spinner returned to rejoin the squad before India clinched their most significant Test victory over England in terms of run margins.
While Ashwin’s absence during the third Test remained undisclosed to the public, the 37-year-old has now shed light on the matter, acknowledging the unwavering support he received from captain Rohit Sharma.
In a candid revelation on his YouTube channel, Ashwin recounted the emotional turmoil he faced and how Rohit Sharma played a pivotal role in helping him make the decision to leave the team.
“I inquired about my mother’s condition and was informed that she was unable to be visited. This news brought tears to my eyes. Despite my efforts to secure a flight, I couldn’t find one in time, as the Rajkot airport closes after 6 PM. I was at a loss for what to do. It was then that Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid came to my room. Rohit urged me to stop dwelling on it and urged me to be with my family. He even went as far as arranging a charter flight for me,” Ashwin revealed, expressing his gratitude towards the captain for his unwavering support during the challenging time.
Ravichandran Ashwin sharing a touching story about Rohit helping him to get back to Chennai to see his family during tough situation.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 12, 2024
– Rohit, an unbelievable human being ?pic.twitter.com/ziYsuQU4DX
“Kamlesh, the team physio, is a very good friend of mine. Rohit told him to fly with me to Chennai and be with me, but I convinced him to stay back. When I went down, the security and Kamlesh were already there, waiting. Kamlesh got a call from Rohit on our ride towards the airport, checking up on me and literally asking him to be with me during this tough time. It was 9:30 at night. I was just gobsmacked. I cannot even think about it. The two people there were the only ones that I could talk. What if nobody was there? I just thought, even if I were a captain, I’d tell my players to go back home. No second thoughts about it. But will I be calling people to check up on him? I don’t know. Unbelievable. I saw an outstanding leader in Rohit Sharma that day,” he added.
“My respect for him grew tremendously after that. I’ve played under several captains and leaders, but Rohit has something special in him, for his good heart only. He’s won 5 IPL titles, on par with Dhoni,” Ashwin said.
“God doesn’t give it easy. He should get something bigger than all that, which god will give him. In such a selfish society, a man who thinks about someone else’s well-being is a rarity. My respect for him grew tremendously after that. I already had respect for him as a leader; he backs a player without question until the last moment. It’s not an easy thing. Even Dhoni does that. But he takes 10 steps more,” he added.