Harsha Bhogle recalls Ashwin’s kindness during a dark period in his life

Tributes have poured in for R Ashwin, as India’s second-most successful bowler of all time (in terms of wickets) announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket after India drew the third Border Gavaskar Trophy Test at Gabba. 

Ashwin made a surprise announcement at the press conference, where he came with skipper Rohit Sharma and addressed the press. Following the announcement, the cricket world erupted with praise and tributes for the legendary off-spinner. 

Veteran broadcaster Harsha Bhogle also expressed his gratitude to Ashwin in a video he put up on his YouTube channel. In that video, Bhogle reminisced about an incident from 2016/17 when he was under fire for criticising Indian cricketers. It was a dark period in Bhogle’s illustrious career, as he was removed from the broadcast of many key games involving India.

At that time, Ashwin showed him a gesture of kindness, which Bhogle remembered with great gratitude and expressed in the video, where he applauded the generosity of a young Ashwin.

“I’m going to end this little tribute to you [Ashwin] with something that means a lot to me,” Bhogle said in his video. 

“In 2016-2017 I was going through a phase where people were questioning me a great deal, and you were still a very young person. You actually reached out to me. I think it might have been in a hotel room in Pune. You reached out to me and said do you want to sit down and have a conversation on the craft of spin bowling. 

“What you were trying to tell me without saying so in as many words was, ‘can I help you understand bowling so that you will become a better broadcaster?’, and that meant the world to me, Ashwin. 

“Because here’s a young man offering to help someone so vastly experienced at becoming better at his profession because you thought that person was under attack.”

Ashwin’s interest and support during a low period clearly meant a lot to him. In a video released by the BCCI on Ashwin, a visibly emotional Bhogle is seen hugging Ashwin right after the press conference where the latter announced his retirement. 

“That is why when I met you today when you were on your way to announcing your retirement, I was still hoping I could pull you back and say don’t, but your mind was made up,” Bhogle said. 

“That was the reason behind the hug that you did something when it meant a lot to me. It is beyond all the wickets, beyond all the runs beyond everything else. Well played [Ashwin]. You are an ornament to a game, and I wish you a lot lot more.”

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