India’s cricket captain, Rohit Sharma, has come to the defense of his teammate, Ravichandran Ashwin, amid recent criticism over the spinner’s performance during the Test series against England. Despite leading the series’ wicket-taking chart with an impressive 26 wickets, Ashwin faced scrutiny for not achieving a five-wicket haul in the early matches, despite delivering solid figures of 3/68 and 3/72.

Drawing a parallel to Virat Kohli’s centuries, Rohit Sharma emphasized the importance of five-wicket hauls in defining Ashwin’s success. The scrutiny heightened after a less remarkable performance in Rajkot, where Ashwin managed only two wickets. However, he swiftly bounced back, claiming 5/51 in Ranchi and 5/77 in Dharamsala, surpassing Anil Kumble’s record for the most five-wicket hauls by an Indian in Tests.

Taking to his Instagram handle ‘Team Ro’, Rohit Sharma spoke candidly, defending Ashwin’s consistency and highlighting the immense pressure the spinner faces, particularly when playing in India.

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“Ravi Ash… his career speaks for itself, man. Look at the Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards that he has won. It tells you clearly that he has been a match-winner for Team India. Whenever we play in India, this guy puts his hand up all the time. And to me, it doesn’t matter whether you play in or outside India. Imagine the amount of pressure he has to go through,” Rohit Sharma said.

Acknowledging Ashwin’s personal challenges, Rohit Sharma underscored the spinner’s dedication by recalling his withdrawal from the Rajkot Test to attend to his unwell mother. Rohit further reminded critics that Ashwin, like any other player, is susceptible to fluctuations in form.

However, he praised Ashwin’s consistent performance on home soil, despite the absence of traditionally favourable pitch conditions. Rohit urged detractors to recognize Ashwin’s resilience and unwavering commitment to the team’s success.

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“If there is an inning where he has not taken wickets, people start talking ‘Oh, he is not bowling well. This is happening, that is happening. Arre bhai… insaan hai (Boss, he is human). At the end of the day, he is trying his best. But imagine, for him, to come out on top every time being in this situation, and to do it and keep delivering series after series says a lot about what kind of a performer he is,” added the India captain.