India's captain Rohit Sharma (right), and Virat Kohli celebrate after winning the third one day international cricket match and series against England in Ahmedabad, India. (AP)R Ashwin has showered praise on captain Rohit Sharma for transforming India’s approach in the ODIs and called him one of the most “selfless cricketer,” he has ever played with. Under Rohit’s captaincy, India have reached final of the ODI World Cup and won the T2OI World Cup.
“One thing that I admire the most about Rohit Sharma is that he not selfish at all. He is one of the most selfless cricketer,” said on his Hindi YouTube channel, “Ash Ki Baat.”
“If he would have been selfish, he would never have batted the way he is batting in the ODIs. He wouldn’t go after everything in the powerplay.
“So many times he has let go the landmarks to score runs.
India’s captain Rohit Sharma plays a shot during the second one day international cricket match between India and England in Cuttack, India. (AP)
“I have massive respect for Rohit Sharma. I am also very happy for Rohit and I’m doubly glad that he is showing that this is the way forward.
“He is like I have scored runs but its business as usual. My one-day form was good. Let’s talk about other players, who has made an impact. I love that quality of Rohit Sharma.”
Ashwin also credited Rohit Sharma for realising that how game has evolved over the years. In the 2019 ODI World Cup, Rohit played as an accumulator, scored five centuries but in the 2023 ODI World Cup, he become a dasher.
“The thing is that game has changed and evolved. It is important to realise that the game is bigger than all of us,” said Ashwin.
“I was watching an interview of Sachin Tendulkar where he spoke about the runout mishap between him and VVS Laxman. He spoke how his brother taught him an important lesson about the way he responded after getting out. Ajit Tendulkar scolded him for his reaction and told him how he should be a team man.
Rohit Sharma Captain of India during the 2nd ODI match between India and England held at the Barabati Stadium, Cuttack, India on the 9th February 2025. (Sportzpics)
“It is the same thing here too. Rohit has showed the way for you.
“In India, we have often seen players looking out for their averages, stay not out, look at your scores etc.. to keep an eye on their career records, average and strike rate to cement their place in the teams
“But we forget, why we all start playing cricket? we wanted to wear the jersey and play for India. And Rohit has showed the way forward, and had said that he is putting the team ahead of himself.
“Plus the game has changed too. England changed the ODIs from 2015 to 2019.
“India was actually late to the party. And who showed the way ahead for the Indian team? It was Rohit Sharma. It took us eight years to change our style of play, Maybe if we had changed in six, we might have won one more ICC trophy.
“Rohit was the burning light of the candle that changed and transformed this team,” he said.
Stay updated with the latest sports news across Cricket, Football, Chess, and more. Catch all the action with real-time live cricket score updates and in-depth coverage of ongoing matches.
3 min read
