"I dialled Cheteshwar Pujara" - Ravichandran Ashwin's wife Prithi narrates distressing events during 3rd Test
Published - 06 Mar 2024, 05:06 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:27 AM
Prithi, Ravichandran Ashwin’s wife, disclosed distressing events during the third Test match against England in Rajkot. Prithi shared details about her mother-in-law’s health emergency, prompting Ravichandran Ashwin to leave the match abruptly to be with his family.
Ravichandran Ashwin had to withdraw from the Rajkot Test due to a sudden “family emergency.” Media reports revealed that the emergency was related to his mother’s health. The veteran off-spinner left the Indian team after the conclusion of play on the second day.
On the third day, the home team played without Ravichandran Ashwin, reducing their lineup to 10 players. The 37-year-old returned during the post-tea session on Day 4 and took a wicket in the final innings, contributing to the team’s comprehensive 434-run victory.
We Had Decided Not To Tell Ravichandran Ashwin – Prithi
Ahead of Ashwin‘s milestone 100th Test, Prithi shared the events during the Rajkot Test, highlighting family concerns. Amid the anticipation of his 500th wicket, she revealed that Ashwin’s mother collapsed suddenly, prompting a rush to the hospital.
“Unlike the excitement around his 100th Test, as a family we were very cocooned when he was on 499 wickets. That was because Ashwin did not talk about it. During Rajkot, the kids had just got back from school when five minutes later, he got to 500. And soon, all of us were on the phone answering all the congratulatory messages.”
“It was then that I heard a sudden scream from aunty as she collapsed, and in no time we were at the hospital. At that point, we had decided not to tell Ashwin because there wasn’t good flight connectivity between Chennai and Rajkot,” Prithi wrote in a column for The Indian Express.
Ashwin became the second Indian bowler after Anil Kumble to claim 500 Test wickets and the second fastest in the world after Muttiah Muralitharan. The Tamil Nadu-born cricketer achieved the massive milestone during the second day of the third Test against England.
During the fourth Test of the five-match series in Ranchi, Ashwin surpassed Kumble’s record of 350 wickets in India. As the off-spinner prepares for the fifth Test in Dharamsala, he is set to become the 14th Indian cricketer to represent the country in 100 Test matches.
Ravichandran Ashwin Sounded So Broken – Prithi
Prithi revealed how she took assistance from Cheteshwar Pujara, a native of Rajkot, to manage the situation before informing Ashwin. Prithi expressed gratitude to Rohit Sharma, Rahul Dravid, and the BCCI for their support in ensuring Ashwin’s safe return home.
“So I dialled Cheteshwar Pujara and his family were of great help. And once we found a way out, I called up Ashwin because after the scans, the doctor suggested it was better to have her son around. Over the phone, he sounded so broken and hung up. It took another 20-25 minutes to process what I told him and for him to call back. And thanks to Rohit (Sharma), Rahul bhai (Dravid) and the others in the team and the BCCI — who followed up all the way till he reached here — he got here late at night,” Prtihi added.
