Table of Contents
Ravichandran Ashwin, the star off-spinner of Team India, recently shared a heart-wrenching account of the medical emergency he faced during the third Test match against England in Rajkot. Amidst celebrating his milestone 500th wicket, Ashwin had to confront a harrowing situation as his mother collapsed due to a severe headache back home.
The Ordeal
During the third Test match against England, Ashwin reached a significant milestone in his career by clinching his 500th wicket. However, amidst the celebrations, the spinner received distressing news of his mother’s sudden illness. Ashwin, visibly shaken, decided to leave the match to attend to his family.
“After getting my 500th wicket, I was waiting for a call or a message from my parents and my wife. It was 7 pm and I found it strange that they hadn’t called me. I thought ‘Maybe they are giving some interviews and responding to congratulatory messages’. But around 7 pm, I called my wife before going to shower. My parents did not pick up the calls. And I found my wife’s voice was breaking. She asked me to move away from my teammates and then she told me that my mother collapsed after a severe headache. I kind of blanked out. I did not know how to react. I didn’t know how to ask her a question. I was crying, but I was trying to make sure no one saw me crying. I don’t why I felt like that but it was instinctive. I felt blank. I sat in my room alone. I was crying,” revealed Ashwin in a video on his YouTube channel.
Rohit Sharma’s support
In a touching display of camaraderie and leadership, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma extended crucial support to Ashwin during this challenging time. Rohit, along with head coach Rahul Dravid, visited Ashwin in his hotel room and urged him to prioritize his family’s well-being. Rohit’s empathetic gesture included arranging a charter flight for Ashwin to rush back home to Chennai. Cheteshwar Pujara, another stalwart of the Indian cricket team, played a pivotal role in facilitating Ashwin’s swift return home. Pujara’s efforts in coordinating logistics for the charter flight underscored the team’s solidarity and support for their teammate in distress.
“Rohit and Rahul bhai came to my room. Rohit saw me thinking and he said ‘what are you thinking about? Just pack your bags and leave now’. He told me that he would try and arrange a charter flight for me. A big thank you to Cheteshwar Pujara. He spoke to a lot of people and arranged for the charter flight. I didn’t know how I spent 2 hours in that flight back home,” added Ashwin.
Ashwin lauds Rohit’s gesture
Ashwin expressed gratitude towards Rohit for his compassionate gesture, as he insisted that their team physio, Kamlesh, accompany Ashwin on his flight back to Chennai. Despite Ashwin’s initial hesitation, Rohit’s unwavering support prevailed, demonstrating his caring leadership. Ashwin further explained that although he advised Kamlesh to remain with the team, Rohit ensured Kamlesh’s presence throughout Ashwin’s journey home, symbolizing Rohit’s constant concern and support during a challenging time.
“Our team physio Kamlesh is my good friend. What Rohit did was beautiful. Rohit asked Kamlesh to join me on my flight to Chennai. I told Rohit that Kamlesh is one of the two physios with the team and how he could send him with me when the team was playing a crucial Test. Rohit is like ‘That’s okay’. But I told Kamlesh to stay back with the team. However, when I went down to the lobby, Kamlesh and a security person were standing there. Rohit was calling Kamlesh and keeping a tab on me throughout the journey back home,” disclosed the Chennai-born spinner.
Also READ: List of all international five-wicket hauls picked by Ravichandran Ashwin
Ashwin’s profound appreciation for Rohit’s leadership
Ashwin highlighted that as a captain himself, he would have made the same decision to prioritize a teammate’s family emergency, but Rohit’s continuous care and attention throughout the ordeal exceeded his expectations. Ashwin emphasized Rohit’s exceptional leadership qualities, comparing them favorably to other great captains like MS Dhoni, and praised Rohit’s ability to genuinely support and believe in his teammates. Ashwin concluded by expressing his immense respect and admiration for Rohit Sharma’s kindness and leadership, wishing him further success in his career.
“I was gobsmacked. I couldn’t even imagine the gesture from Rohit. If I were captain, I would ask anyone in that position to go home. There’s no second thought in that. But, to keep a constant tab on me, calling Kamlesh and asking him to accompany me. Unbelievable! I see an outstanding leader in Rohit Sharma. He is something special. For this kind heart, he has won so many titles, including 5 IPL titles. God doesn’t give easily. I hope Rohit achieves something even more big. I will pray to God for that. My respect for him (grew more)…I already have a lot of respect for him. If he believes in a player then he backs that player. It’s not an easy thing. Even Dhoni does that. But he (Rohit) has taken 10 steps more. When it gets so personal like this, a player can even give his life on the field,” Ashwin added further.
