Former spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has said that Rohit Sharma’s selfless approach has transformed the team’s mindset in the 50-over format.
Ashwin has said that a big fan of Rohit Sharma‘s selfless approach in ODI and praised the captain for his match-winning century in the second ODI match of England’s tour of India 2025.
Speaking on his YouTube Channel, Ashwin said the Indian captain always focuses on the bigger picture in the leadup to the Champions Trophy, which is why he downplayed the significance of the Hundred during England ODIs.
Rohit Sharma smashed only 119 runs off 90 deliveries in India’s successful chase of 305 against England in Cuttack.
He silenced his critics with a free-flowing knock, leading India’s aggressive batting display which he showed during the 2023 ODI World Cup 2023 and 2024 T20 World Cup.
“One big quality of Rohit that I admire the most is that he is a selfless person. He is very selfless. If you are selfish, you won’t go out there and play freely. You won’t play aggressively.”
“He has, so many times, not worried about landmarks and still scored big runs. I have massive respect for Rohit when it comes to that, and I am so happy he is showing that this is the way forward.”
“He is saying: ‘Yes, I scored runs today, but it is business as usual. My one-day form is good, but there are more people whom I have to praise and motivate,'” Ashwin said.
“What is remarkable? We need to normalise everything. We shouldn’t keep promoting superstardom and super-celebrity culture.”
“For the next generation, we need to normalise it. We are cricketers-we are not actors, we are not superstars. We are sportspeople, with whom normal people should be able to resonate,” said Ashwin.
“So when players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who have achieved so much in their careers, score big, it’s business as usual. The goals should be bigger-it’s not about the individuals.”
Ashwin noted that England revolutionise the way the World Cup player ODI cricket between 2015 and 2019 and that India were late to adopt a similar approach.
“The game is changing. We all need to understand that cricket is bigger than any individual. He has shown the way forward.”
“In Indian cricket, there has always been talk about improving averages, remaining not out, monitoring personal scores, looking at career averages, and securing a place in the squad.”
“But, from our early days, we have been wearing the jersey and playing for the country. Rohit is playing the game and setting the example,” Ashwin said.
“England, between 2015 and 2019, changed the game (ODI). India were actually late to the party. Who showed the way forward? Rohit Sharma. It took us eight years.”
“May be, had it been six years, we would have won another trophy. So, Rohit was the burning light in the candle to change and transform this.”
Rohit Sharma redefined the way India batted in the ODI World Cup, leading from the front at home ground. He amassed 597 runs at a strike rate of 125.94 the highest for any batter with more than 400 runs in that tournament.
He is expected to lead India to title run in the upcoming ICC Men’s Champions Trophy which is set to begin with the clash between Pakistan and New Zealand on February 19 at National Stadium Karachi.
