Amid India’s recent disappointment at the pinnacle of cricketing events, seasoned all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin disclosed an emotional moment involving skipper Rohit Sharma and former captain Virat Kohli. They struggled to contain their emotions following India’s defeat against the dominant Australian side in the ICC World Cup final last month. Despite an impressive run throughout the tournament, India faltered in yet another ICC championship finale.
Hinging on the leadership of Rohit, the veteran opener steered the Men in Blue to their first final appearance since the 2011 edition. In pursuit of emulating the success of the revered MS Dhoni by clinching a long-awaited World Cup title, Rohit steered India to an unbeaten streak leading up to the final. The team secured a flawless ten victories, even triumphing over Australia during the round-robin phase of the tournament.
However, India suffered an unexpected defeat against the inspired Travis Head-led Australian squad in the final, extending their drought without a title in ICC events. Speaking with former cricketer Subramaniam Badrinath on his YouTube channel, Ashwin praised Rohit for his exemplary leadership and batting prowess during India’s impressive ODI World Cup campaign. Rohit concluded the tournament as the second-highest run-scorer with 597 runs in 11 matches.
Reflecting on Indian cricket’s perception of captains, Ashwin remarked, “While everyone lauds MS Dhoni as the finest captain, Rohit Sharma stands out as an exceptional individual. He comprehends each player within the team, understanding their preferences and idiosyncrasies. He invests effort in getting to know each player on a personal level.”
Ashwin also shed light on why he was omitted from the Indian playing XI for the World Cup final against Australia according to Rohit’s decision. “Regarding my absence in the final, the team’s composition and other factors are secondary. The primary consideration is empathy, a point I often emphasize. It involves stepping into someone else’s shoes and perceiving things from their viewpoint. If I were in Rohit’s position, I would have critically evaluated altering the winning combination. The team was performing well, so why disrupt the balance by substituting a fast bowler for three spinners?” clarified Ashwin.