‘Party badal lia’- Fans react as Ravichandran Ashwin praises Rohit Sharma for ‘backing’ players

India will take on West Indies in the first match of a two-match Test series beginning on July 12, 2023. This will be the Men in Blue’s first game since they lost to Australia in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2021-23 final. This was their second straight WTC final defeat after their previous loss in WTC 2019-21 final to New Zealand. The decision to not play star off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin in the recent final sparked debate among fans and former cricketers.

After the game, Ashwin gave an angry interview in which he discussed the dressing room climate. Ravichandran Ashwin praised Rohit Sharma’s captaincy approach as well. He said that the experienced opening batter has always been there for his teammates. He also supported the Indian captain for showing empathy towards the players.

I mean that is something that I will always take away with when it comes to Rohit: Ravichandran Ashwin

The spinner stated, “His empathy for players and the support and the backing, and understanding of the players is something exemplary. And that is really why he has won so many titles also. I mean that is something that I will always take away with when it comes to Rohit.”

Speaking about Rohit Sharma, T Dilip said that the Indian captain is a great human being, “A great human being. I think he is a fantastic person. One of the greatest things I have seen with him is that he likes to spend time with the players and like to know them a bit more apart from their professional.”

T Dilip, Team India’s fielding coach, also reportedly stated that he was originally afraid to approach star batter Virat Kohli due to the latter’s stature. He said “Firstly, being the superstar that Virat Kohli is, I was a little hesitant to approach him. But during the COVID times, we used to meet at the breakfast table, dinner table. Off the field, coffee likes, and dislikes, we had different topics of discussion. I think that over a period of time, spending time with him off the field, I understood that he is a wonderful human being.”

“I think he is a wonderful person. At appropriate times if you can approach and tell the right things, he can give lots of input. I think he is someone you really need to spend time with to know him.”

Here’s how fans reacted

Still he dropped him for WTC finals.

— Nirmal Jyothi (@majornirmal) July 11, 2023

https://twitter.com/unstoppable720/status/1678654229530161153?s=20

Never seen someone saying this for Chokli.
Ashwin even reported that players are not happy under chokli's Captaincy. That's difference between God Rohit and Dog chokli

— ً (@Antivirus_45) July 11, 2023

https://twitter.com/SaiKingkohli/status/1678654216183894018?s=20

The most backed Indian player by Rohit Sharma was Virat Kohli but Kohli fans can never digest this fact.

— Ctrl C Ctrl Memes (@Ctrlmemes_) July 11, 2023

Yes he supported him very well in wtc final. Thank him Ashwin

— Jaicric (@jaicric1981) July 11, 2023

https://twitter.com/ntweet_55/status/1678663622422065153?s=20

So much of thoughts after getting benched in finals

— Sasidaranᵛᵃˡᶤᵐᵃᶤ (@SasidaranSri) July 11, 2023