Veteran Mumbai Indians (MI) batter Rohit Sharma applauded Indian teammate KL Rahul amid the ongoing IPL 2025 season. Rohit, however, announced his retirement from Test cricket on Wednesday, May 7 as well.
In a recent interview with journalist Vimal Kumar, Rohit Sharma was asked about the criticism that KL Rahul faced. To which Rohit said that Rahul has been a key player in the past few years and he looks at him as a crisis man. He also applauded Rahul for stepping up in doing whatever the team needed of him as well.
“Pichle do teen saalo mai toh mere liye important player rahe hai woh. I look at him as a crisis man. Jaha pe humko KL se kuch karvana tha toh KL ne haath uthaya.” (In the last two-three years, he has been an important player for me. I look at him as a crisis man. Wherever we needed KL to do something, he has raised his hand), he said, “Keeping karna hai, chalo mai karta hu. Yaha pe batting karna hai, karta hu.” (Have to do keeping, he will do it. Have to bat anywhere, he will do it.)
ALSO READ: “In the next T20 World Cup in India, he’ll be number one bowler” – Mohammad Kaif on Varun Chakravarthy
While talking about the criticism faced by KL Rahul and other players, Rohit Sharma said that it does not affect him or most of the players now as well. He also said that players would be sitting at home if it affected them.
He shared, “Mai abhi thak gaya hu yaar. Agar affect karti hoti na, toh player abhi ghar mai baitha hota, bistar mai apne so raha hota ki yaar mereko criticize kiya ja raha hai mai nahi khel sakta hu yeh ho raha hai mere saath. Puri duniya mere khilaf hai. Thick skin bolte hai na jisko, yeh saare players mai inbuilt hai.” (I am tired of this. If it affected, then the player would be sitting at home. He would be on his bed thinking I am being criticized, I cannot play all this is happening with me. The whole world is against me. Being thick-skinned is inbuilt in players.)
“Mai yeh nahi bol sakta hu ki puri tarike se affect nahi karti hai. Kisi ko karti hogi kisi ko nahi karti hogi. Mereko toh kuch nahi hota hai. Abhi time bhi hogaya na itna.” (I cannot say that it does not affect at all. It may affect some and it may not to others. Nothing happens to me. It has been a long time since I am playing now), Rohit Sharma concluded.
