Veteran Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has attributed the national team's transformative and aggressive batting philosophy in limited-overs cricket to the leadership duo of former captain Rohit Sharma and ex-head coach Rahul Dravid. According to Ashwin, their combined vision and personal example were instrumental in shifting India's mindset in T20Is and ODIs.
The Architects of a New Batting Era
Speaking on his popular YouTube channel 'Ash Ki Baat', Ashwin elaborated on the profound impact of Sharma and Dravid. He emphasised that they did not merely instruct the team to play aggressively but actively demonstrated the approach themselves. "Rohit as a captain has always been laying his stamp by showing the team what he wants from it," Ashwin stated. He pinpointed the duo as the masterminds behind India's faster batting tempo, a departure from more conservative methods of the past.
"The transitional batting that India has gone through in T20 cricket and ODI cricket – the way we bat fast — a lot of credit for that goes to Rohit and Rahul bhai," Ashwin affirmed. He highlighted that their partnership redefined success metrics in white-ball cricket, moving the focus from batting averages to strike rate. "They showed the way, Rahul bhai said this is how we have to play and Rohit showed the way... paved the way and eventually it has changed the way India perceived batting. Batting is not average it is purely strike rate in white ball cricket," he added.
From Vision to Trophy: The Tangible Results
This philosophical shift, implemented under the stewardship of Rohit and Dravid, came as a strategic response to previous disappointments in ICC tournaments. The new proactive template bore fruit almost immediately. Its effectiveness was on full display during the 2023 ODI World Cup hosted in India, where the team dominated the league stage with an unmistakably attacking mindset.
The ultimate validation of this approach arrived with India's triumphant campaign at the 2024 T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the USA, ending a long wait for a global trophy. The victory served as a testament to the successful cultural change instigated by the captain-coach partnership.
A Call to Cherish the Legends
With both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli now focusing solely on ODI cricket after stepping away from T20Is and Tests, Ashwin took a moment to urge fans to appreciate their remaining time on the international stage. He delivered a poignant message about the transient nature of sporting careers.
"I will say one thing, how much time we have to watch and enjoy Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma bat, please let's do it because once they are done, we could hear talks like 'oh, what a player he was! Please bring him back'. That doesn't cut ice for me," Ashwin remarked.
He concluded with an emotional appeal, stating, "For however long they play, let us celebrate them as long as they are playing. As I said, life moves on very fast. Time does not wait for anyone. It is very important that we realise that the time is less. So it is better that we enjoy whatever they are doing." His words serve as a reminder to value the current era of Indian cricket greatness while it lasts.
