NEW DELHI, Nov 30
Star spin bowler Ravichandran Ashwin believes that if all-rounder Hardik Pandya assumes the role of Mumbai Indians skipper, Rohit Sharma will manage the situation with grace. According to Ashwin, the Team India captain Rohit Sharma lacks ego and would handle the transition smoothly. Pandya recently rejoined Mumbai Indians through an all-cash deal after a trade-off with Gujarat Titans, the IPL team he captained for two years.
Pandya, who began his IPL journey with Mumbai Indians in 2015 and secured four titles, moved to Gujarat Titans in 2022. There, he led the team to victory in the same season and guided them to the runners-up position in IPL 2023. The decision to bring Pandya back to the Mumbai Indians raised eyebrows, particularly regarding the team’s captaincy, which is currently held by Rohit.
“Rohit Sharma does not have much ego. He is a great human being and a sound leader. He will handle it with grace (if Pandya is made MI leader),” Ashwin said during his YouTube interaction with former cricketer S Badrinath.
“In the history of IPL, apart from the top four to five teams, all have released players. Mumbai and CSK have never done it. I know Hardik to an extent. I see this move as a milestone achievement,” he added.
“The day I lose this motivation, I know it’s over”
Asked about his retirement plan, Ashwin, 37, said the day he loses motivation, he would call it quits.
“I am not being diplomatic, but for four to five years (since 2019), I found myself in a very dark space in life, and took help for mental health as well. In the dark space, I realised I have to be ready for any eventuality,” he said.
“I have been preparing for life after cricket for five years. But I continue to work hard on my cricket; to contribute with the bat, I went to the USA and practised baseball.
“The day I lose this motivation, I feel irritated about waking up in the morning to bowl or bat, I know it is over. I will then quit immediately, say thanks to all and go on to the next chapter in life.”
Ashwin, however, clarified that he has not yet decided on his post-retirement career.
“I am searching for something to do beyond cricket. I am interested in marketing and a lot of other things. But even if nothing else, I can’t stop watching cricket. I am a cricket-tragic.
I will do something in cricket and something other than that,” he concluded.
