'What do they need to prove?': Ravichandran Ashwin blasts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's critics after SA heroics

Former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin tore aparat Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's critics and remarked that the duo do not need to prove themselves to anyone after their stellar performance in the ODI series against South Africa. He also said that the younger generation of cricketers can learn a lot from the duo's commitment towards the game.

Rohit and Virat's dominance in ODI series

These comments come after Rohit and Virat's heroic batting performance against South Africa. While the latter was adjudged the Player of the Series for scoring 302 runs in just three innings, the former also batted brilliantly and hit two half-centuries in the series. With there still being no guarantee as to if they will play the 2027 ODI World Cup, Ashwin believes that they need to continue making sacrifices in order to extend their international career.

“The fact that Rohit has worked on it (fitness) and come back, so props to him. The fact that Virat is batting as well as he is also shows the kind of work both of them have put in. The fact that both of them have to prove is itself a laughable thing. What do they need to prove? Obviously, it is all messaging. In such long careers, we have all ups and downs, we all have good and bad times,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

“So, these things will keep happening. But they don't have to prove anything to anyone. It is actually an example for all the next generation of players coming through, showing that you need to make sacrifices and demonstrate commitment to the game if you want to have such lengthy careers. The game is bigger than anyone else,” he added.

T20I series set to commence soon

Both Rohit and Virat played key roles in India clinching the three-match ODI series by 2-1 and hitting back after their 0-2 Test series whitewash to South Africa. The focus will now shift to the five-match T20I assignment between the two teams that will begin from December 9.

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India's squad for South Africa T20Is: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC)*, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar.

South Africa's squad for India T20Is: Aiden Markram (C), Ottneil Baartman, Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Quinton de Kock, Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Lutho Sipamla, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortjeand Tristan Stubbs.