Spark News India Igniting Minds Daily
In a series that seen him reach the 500 wicket mark and play in his 100th Test, Ravichandran Ashwin is incredibly appreciative of Rohit Sharma’s “good heart.”
The Indian off-spinner took to his YouTube channel to praise Rohit for his leadership during a period of personal adversity for the Ashwin family, which saw the team’s star player withdraw from the Rajkot Test halfway through to attend to his mother, who had passed away in their hometown of Chennai due to a headache.
At a critical point in the series, Ashwin had to decide whether or not to quit his squad. He revealed how the Indian captain supported him in making that decision. “I enquired as to her condition and consciousness. It seems that the doctor informed me that she was not in a position to see patients. I began to cry. I tried to get a flight, but I was unable to. Since there are no further flights from Rajkot airport after six, it closes at that time. I had no idea what to do. When Rahul (Dravid) Bhai and Rohit (Sharma) arrived to my room, Rohit essentially told me to stop thinking and go spend time with my family.”
But Ashwin was surprised by the gesture that Rohit made next. “Kamlesh, the team physio, is a very good friend of mine,” he relates. I persuaded Rohit to remain back, even though he was telling me to go to Chennai and be with me. Kamlesh and the security guards were waiting for me as I descended. While we were travelling to the airport, Kamlesh received a call from Rohit requesting to be with him during this difficult moment, as well as to check up on me. The time was 9:30 p.m. I was simply in disbelief. I am unable to even consider it. I could only speak with the two individuals present.
Ashwin feels that Rohit’s success as a captain has been largely down to his ability to show his teammates such a high degree of empathy and personal attention.
