‘I am insanely proud of you’ - Ravichandran Ashwin’s wife pens heartfelt note after spinner completes 500 Test wickets

Veteran Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin reached the incredible milestone of completing 500 wickets in Test cricket for the Indian team. However, the 37-year-old had little time to celebrate, as he had to rush back to Chennai on Day 3 of the Rajkot Test against England due to a family emergency. 

After attending to his family, Ashwin returned on Day 4 of the clash and even picked up a wicket in his six-over spell after giving away just 19 runs. His incredible resilience saw his wife, Prithi, take to Instagram and pen a heartfelt note after he completed 500 Test wickets. 

"We chased the 500 at Hyderabad; it didn't happen. At Vizag, it didn't happen. So I just bought a ton of sweets and gave it to everyone at home at 499. 500 came and went quietly. Till it didn't. A lot happened between 500 and 501. Longest 48 hours of our lives," Ashwin’s wife posted on Instagram. 

"But this is about the 500. And the 499 before that. What a phenomenal achievement. What a phenomenal guy. I am insanely proud of you Ravi Ashwin. We love you!" she further added.

Family comes first: Rohit Sharma

Speaking of Ashwin’s absence on the third day of the third Test, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma came forward to reflect on how tough things got for the Indian team after losing one of their most experienced bowlers in the middle of the clash, but he did opine that he understood that family should always come first. 

“When you lose your most experienced bowler in the middle of a Test match, it’s not easy. But everything aside, family comes first. And when we heard the news, there were no second thoughts in our minds that he should do what he felt was right,” Rohit said in the post-match press conference.

“He wanted to be with the family, which was absolutely the right thing to do. It was good for him, and to make way and be a part of the team shows his character and the kind of person he is. We were happy to have him back,” he added.

Also Read: BCCI secretary Jay Shah arranges chartered flight for Ravichandran Ashwin to rejoin Rajkot Test