Ravichandran Ashwin praised Rohit Sharma‘s selfless approach in ODIs, highlighting his example for the team. Ashwin admired Rohit’s restrained celebration after his century in the second ODI against England in Cuttack on February 9.
On his YouTube show, Ashwin noted Rohit’s focus on the bigger picture ahead of the Champions Trophy. Rohit’s 119 off 90 balls helped India chase 305, ending a year-long century drought and reflecting his aggressive style from the 2023 ODI and 2024 T20 World Cups.
“One trait of Rohit that I deeply admire is his selflessness. He is genuinely selfless. If you’re driven by selfishness, it would be hard to play freely and with aggression. Rohit, on numerous occasions, hasn’t focused on personal milestones, yet he still scores big. I have immense respect for him for that. It’s inspiring to see him approach it with the mindset that it’s business as usual. Even when he scores runs, his focus remains on the bigger picture. He often emphasizes that while his form is good, there are others who deserve recognition and encouragement as well,” Ashwin shared.
“What’s remarkable is that we need to move beyond the glorification of superstardom and celebrity culture. For the future generation, it’s important to normalize this. We are cricketers, not actors or superstars. We are athletes, and we should connect with ordinary people,” Ashwin added, praising Rohit for his understated celebrations and calm reactions after matches.
“When players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who have accomplished so much, score runs, it’s business as usual. Their focus isn’t on personal achievement. The focus should always be on bigger goals—it’s never just about the individual.”
“”The game is evolving, and we must recognize that cricket is bigger than any individual player. Rohit has set an excellent example in this regard. In Indian cricket, there’s often a lot of emphasis on personal stats like averages, staying not out, or securing a spot in the team. But from the start, we’ve worn the jersey with pride, playing for our country”. Ashwin concluded by saying, ‘Rohit is playing with that same spirit and setting the example..