R Ashwin has opened up on his emotional breakdown during the third Test between India and England in Rajkot. He was informed about his mother’s illness by his wife and the player went blank. He couldn’t control his tears shortly after completing 500 Test wickets.
Ashwin revealed that his teammates, especially captain Rohit Sharma and BCCI secretary Jay Shah, helped him reach Chennai to be with his mother.
Ashwin left the team base after the end of the second day’s play as his mother collapsed due to a severe headache. He was not there with the team on the third day but rejoined on the fourth day. Ashwin traveled to Chennai on a chartered plane, which was arranged by Cheteshwar Pujara, and returned back to Rajkot on a chartered plane, which was arranged by Jay Shah.
Ashwin was not sure about staying back or traveling to Chennai to see his mother. Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid came to meet him, and the skipper urged him to leave the game and be with his family. He suggested that one of the team physios accompany him.
“I was waiting for a call or a message from my parents and wife after taking 500 wickets. It was 7pm, and I was surprised that nobody had called me. I thought they would be busy giving interviews or replaying back to the messages.
“I called up my wife around 7 pm as my parents were not answering my calls. She sounded sad and told me about the condition of my mother.
“I was hit hard as I was not aware how to reach Chennai. I started crying and sat alone in my room.
“My number got unreachable, and my wife told one of the physios to check on me. She also informed Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid. I was thinking that I was a part of Playing XI and that if I went home, we would be left with 10 players. The series was 1-1.
“I decided to go back home and spoke to family members about my mother’s condition. They told me that no one was allowed to meet her.
“Rohit and Dravid came to meet me and told me to pack my bags. Rohit said that it was important to be with my mother. Rohit said that he would arrange a chartered flight.
“Big thank you to Cheteshwar Pujara, who booked a chartered flight for me, and I spent 2 hours on that flight.
“Our team physio Kamlesh is my good friend, and Rohit told him to accompany me. However, I refused as we had two physios, and if one went with me, we would be left with one. However, when I went out to leave for the airport, I saw Kamlesh standing out with his stuff.
“Rohit was calling Kamlesh to find out about me throughout the journey.
“It was so lovely of Rohit. I couldn’t imagine Rohit’s gesture. He kept calling Kamlesh to find out about my well-being. He is something special. I will pray to God that Rohit achieves something big as a captain.”