R Ashwin in action (Courtesy: BCCI.TV)

In a major blow to Team India, ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin left the squad in between the Rajkot Test on Friday night due to a medical emergency. The Board of Control For Cricket In India did not reveal the details and asked fans to respect the Indian player”s privacy, offering their full support to Ashwin.

However, the BCCI vice president Rajiv Shukla revealed that Ashwin”s withdrawal from the Team India squad due to a medical emergency pertains to his mother. He also added that Ashwin flew to Chennai from Rajkot on Friday night. “Wishing speedy recovery of mother of @ashwinravi99. He has to rush and leave the Rajkot Test to Chennai to be with his mother. @BCCI,” Shukla posted on X.

As far as the Rajkot Test is concerned, Friday was a special day for Ashwin as he became the only second Indian bowler in Test cricket to complete 500 wickets. However, he faced a major setback on the personal front and Team India will be left in a difficult spot without his services as the visitors completed Day 2 on a high.

For the unversed, Ashwin”s mother, Chitra, has been a key figure behind his rise in cricket. She was his first coach and also reportedly advised him to look beyond fast bowling and concentrate on spin bowling instead. He was also put into Indian Classical Music as his mother was into it but he chose to excel in cricket.

In these tough times, prayers go out to Ashwin and his family.