"I felt there is no captain like him" - R Ashwin's massive claim as he recalls hilarious incident ahead of IND vs SA 2025 2nd Test

Former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin recalled a hilarious incident involving Ajinkya Rahane ahead of the second Test against South Africa. The second Test will be played in Guwahati beginning November 22.

Ashwin recalled playing a practice match in Sydney where Rahane was captain. He stated that a fielder at short-leg got hit when Nic Maddinson tried to sweep him. While he did not name the player, he narrated how the fielder asked to walk off the field after getting some treatment. However, he revealed that Rahane asked the player to put his helmet on and get back into his position.

"We were playing a practice game in Sydney. Jinks was the captain. The wicket was bad there and I was bowling on the second day I guess. Nic Maddinson was sweeping me and he got an inside edge and the ball kissed on the shin of the short-leg fielder. It was paining a lot and the player got treatment and all. Later, he came and asked Jinks if he could go out for a while. He told wear the helmet and stand again at your position. I felt there is no captain like him and that was a very funny incident," he said on 'Ash Ki Baat'.

Ashwin retired from international cricket midway through the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 Down Under. He played 106 Tests, 116 ODIs, and 65 T20Is for India, winning the 2011 World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy.

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Ravichandran Ashwin reflects on what Rishabh Pant needs to take out of Ajinkya Rahane's captaincy

In the same video, Ravichandran Ashwin highlighted a quality of Ajinkya Rahane, the captain, that he feels Rishabh Pant will have to bring in. With Shubman Gill reportedly ruled out of the second Test due to a neck injury, Pant will lead the side in Guwahati.

He highlighted how Rahane had a collaborative approach as captain in the limited instances where he led the Indian team.

"What standouts when a stand-in captain comes in is to have a collaborative approach. And I feel Rahane's personality made that very easy. Many times as a bowler, it felt like this is our team. This approach will work because KL is there, Jadeja is there, Bumrah is there," he said.

Pant will have a tough challenge as India are 0-1 down in the two-match series, having lost the first Test by 30 runs. To avoid a series defeat, they are in a must-win position.

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Edited by Rishab Vm