'We can give them space, guys!'
Senior India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has urged fans to be patient with star batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as far as winning an ICC trophy is concerned, saying it took even "the great" Sachin Tendulkar six attempts to win a World Cup.
India last won a World Cup in 2011, but hasn’t tasted success in ICC tournaments since their triumph in the 2013 Champions Trophy.
Backing his former and current India skipper, Ashwin said, on his YouTube channel, "It's easy to say you haven't won this and so on.
"After the 1983 World Cup, the great Sachin Tendulkar played the 1992, 1996, 1999, 2003, and 2007 World Cups. He finally won the World Cup in 2011. He had to wait for six World Cups to finally win one.
"Just because another stalwart M S Dhoni came and won a World Cup as soon as he took charge, doesn't mean it'll happen to everyone, right?"
The team's failure to win an ICC tournament for nearly a decade has attracted criticism and the most recent reverse was the crushing defeat to England in the semi-final of the T20 World Cup in Australia last November.
Ashwin asked the fans to give Rohit and Kohli some space.
"These players (Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli), didn't play in 2007. Rohit Sharma missed out on the 2011 World Cup. Only Kohli played in 2011, 2015, 2019 and now he will play his fourth World Cup in 2023. 'He hasn't won an ICC tournament' they say. He has won it in 2011, he has won the 2013 Champions Trophy.
"Rohit Sharma has also won the 2013 Champions Trophy. So, we can give them space, guys. They are playing bilaterals, IPL, and so many other matches. When it comes to ICC tournaments, you need those crucial moments to go your way," he said.
India is scheduled to host the ODI World Cup in October-November.
