Kamal Ghorui
India batting star Rohit Sharma was at the centre of a major security scare recently after a woman allegedly grabbed his arm while he was entering the team hotel during the third ODI against New Zealand in Indore. A video of the incident, which has since gone viral on social media, shows the woman breaching the security cordon and approaching an unsuspecting Rohit, who appeared visibly startled by the sudden encounter.The clip later features the woman explaining her actions, claiming she was driven by desperation to seek help for her daughter, who is allegedly battling a serious illness and requires an expensive life-saving injection costing Rs 9 crore.
“My name is Sarita Sharma. My daughter, Anika, is suffering from a serious illness, and to save her, we need an injection that costs Rs 9 crore and has to be imported from America. We have been organising small camps to raise funds, and so far, we have managed to collect Rs 4.1 crore. We are running out of time,” she said in the video.The woman further revealed that she had been trying to reach out to Indian cricketers during the match in the hope of receiving assistance.“Yesterday, during the India-New Zealand match, we tried to reach out to cricketers in the hope of getting some help. We also set up a donation camp during the match, but it was not enough. I was trying to meet Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, as they have been helping children. In a desperate attempt to save my child, I went to the hotel where Rohit Sharma was staying. Emotions got the better of me, and I ended up grabbing his hand,” she added.Apologising for the incident, the woman appealed directly to the senior cricketers.“I want to appeal to Virat sir and Rohit sir. You may not be aware of what I was trying to do. I was not there to click any selfies; I just want to save my child’s life. I also want to apologise to the authorities for my actions. I did not know what else to do. I request Virat and Rohit that if they receive my message, please help me,” she concluded.Rohit, 38, has retired from Test and T20 cricket but continues to represent India in the ODI format.Meanwhile, the former India captain is set to be conferred with an Honorary Doctorate (D.Litt.) by Ajeenkya DY Patil University (ADYPU) during its 10th Convocation Ceremony on Saturday, in recognition of his “unparalleled contribution” and “exemplary leadership” in cricket.“While fans know him as the ‘Hitman’ of cricket, the convocation marks a different kind of milestone for Rohit Sharma,” the University said.“Presided over by the University’s President and Chancellor, Dr. Ajeenkya D Y Patil, the ceremony will see Rohit being honored for his unparalleled contribution to sports and his exemplary leadership on the world stage.“By bestowing this Honorary Doctorate, ADYPU recognizes the values of resilience and strategy that he represents-qualities that resonate deeply with the graduating class of 2026.”
