During the recent India-England Test match in Rajkot, cricket fans witnessed a remarkable display of empathy and leadership from Indian captain Rohit Sharma.
Ravichandran Ashwin, the seasoned all-rounder, recently shared a touching story about Rohit’s support during a personal crisis, highlighting the captain's exceptional character off the field.
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During the Test match, Ashwin received distressing news about his mother's health. In a moment of vulnerability, Rohit stepped up, urging Ashwin to prioritize his family without hesitation.
Ravichandran Ashwin in strife, Rohit Sharma makes a grand gesture
Ashwin’s mother had collapsed after a headache and his wife Prithi Ashwin had tried reaching out to him to convey the news, but with the spinner not picking up the call, his wife rang the head coach Rahul Dravid and skipper Rohit Sharma.
Ashwin later did ring her back and received the news in shock, but the skipper and coach were around to comfort him and take swift action.
“I just blanked out. I don't remember what I did, but I was crying,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
“I didn't know what to ask her. I didn't want anyone to see me cry – it was an instinctive reaction. I just sat alone in my room, not knowing what to do.
“On one hand, I knew I had to go back home, but there was also the thinking of how can I let my team-mates down. I couldn't strike that balance. I didn't know what to tell the coach or captain. I was in the XI, and if I go home now, we'd be left with only 10 players, giving England the advantage.
Ashwin recalled Sharma's words: “What are you doing? You need to leave right away. Please just pack your bags and go.”
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There were no flights from Rajkot post 6PM, but Rohit arranged for a chartered flight and even sent the team physio Kamlesh Jain alongside Ashwin to ensure he would be cared for.
Rohit's compassion extended beyond words, as he took proactive steps to ensure Ashwin's swift return home. Collaborating with teammates like Cheteshwar Pujara and Kamlesh, Rohit facilitated a chartered flight for Ashwin, ensuring he could be with his family without delay. Ashwin expressed deep gratitude, hailing Sharma as “an outstanding leader with a heart of gold.”
Watch how Rohit Sharma cared for Ash.
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The Emotional Rollercoaster @ashwinravi99 went through between picking his 500th and heading back home.
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“Rohit regularly kept calling Kamlesh to check in on me and see how I'm doing. That deeply moved me. In a selfish society like ours, that man who decides to take a moment to think of someone else's wellbeing, he's truly great.”
Rohit’s actions deeply moved Ashwin and the fans were in amazement at the gesture shown by the skipper in the spinner’s time of need. His support for Ashwin went beyond what was required of him to be an accepted leader, and embodied the compassion that defines great leadership.
Ashwin was seen giving Rohit a warm hug as he led the team out the next day when he returned to finish off the Test match after tending to his mother.
