Cricket might be a game of numbers on the field, but some moments go way beyond it. Meeting someone you grew up idolising is certainly a moment that stays forever. The young batter Ayush Mhatre from Maharashtra grew up watching and learning from fellow Mumbai cricketer Rohit Sharma. Despite his admiration, Mahtre lost his spot in the Ranji Trophy to Rohit. This didn’t stop the young Chennai Super Kings batter from sharing some off-pitch stories with his idol, a memory that still feels surreal.
Speaking in an interview with the Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) YouTube channel, the Indian U-19 World Cup winner opened up about his special meetup with Rohit before his tour to England and how he was gifted a bat by the former Indian and Mumbai Indians’ skipper.
Mhatre, who made his IPL debut for CSK against MI in 2025, impressed straightaway with 32 of just 15 balls. That dream debut brought him face-to-face with Rohit, who later shared a few encouraging words and even told him he could reach out anytime.
The story began with a simple message
Mhatre decided to reach out to Rohit, hoping to get a few words of guidance and encouragement ahead of his tour to England. What followed next was beyond his imagination. Rohit personally called him, asked where he stayed, and even questioned if he would travel all the way from Virar just to meet him.
Mahtre reminisced about the moment, “So I was about to go on the England tour, and I wanted to speak to him a bit. I messaged him. Then I said I wanted to meet him, so he called me directly. He called me from his side and said, tell me what you want to say. I told him that I am going on this tour and wanted to meet. He asked me, where do you stay? I said Virar. He said, will you come from Virar to meet me? I said yes, I can come anywhere to meet you, I just want to meet you.”
The simple message came true the next day for the rising star. As someone who grew up idolising Rohit, it meant more than just a meeting; it was a full-circle moment.
Mahtre added, “He said it’s not like that, we can also talk on video. I said no; I want to meet you in person and talk. Then he gave me his home address, and I went to his house the next day. I spoke to him for at least 2 hours. I mean, it was crazy that he gave me so much time; that’s a big thing for me. My idol gave me time, so it was a dream day for me. I didn’t even realise how time passed, 2 hours went by. It felt really good talking to him.”
Sometimes, moments like these often shape a player’s belief, as Mhatre went on to have a successful tour to England, leading his side to a 3-2 Youth ODI series win. Also, boasting 340 runs scored over 4 innings in the Youth Test series.
Mhatre was retained by CSK in 2025, scoring 240 runs and proving to be a dependable option. Now, as he continues to grow this season, another meeting with his idol might not be too far away, and this time it might come on the pitch.
