Young batter Ayush Mhatre has opened up about a memorable meeting with his idol Rohit Sharma, describing it as a “dream day” that left a lasting impression on him.Mhatre’s admiration for Rohit has been well known. Earlier, he had even written an emotional note after losing his spot to the former India captain in a Ranji Trophy match. Ahead of his tour of England last year, the youngster finally got the chance to meet his idol — a meeting that turned into a cherished experience.
Speaking on Chennai Super Kings’ YouTube channel, Mhatre revealed how a simple message led to a personal interaction with Rohit. The opportunity came after Rohit had earlier told him he could reach out whenever he needed guidance following his first IPL appearance against Mumbai Indians.Before departing for England, Mhatre decided to take that offer and sent Rohit a message requesting a meeting.“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 directly called me himself. 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,” said Mhatre.Despite Rohit suggesting they could simply speak over a video call, Mhatre was determined to meet him in person. The next day, he travelled to Rohit’s residence, where the two spent nearly two hours in conversation.“He said it’s not like that, we can also talk on video. I said no, I want to meet you personally 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 for me, a dream day. I didn’t even realise how time passed, 2 hours went by. It felt really good talking to him,” he added.Since then, Mhatre has gone on to achieve success, leading India to the Under-19 World Cup title earlier this year. However, his IPL 2026 campaign began on a disappointing note, as he was dismissed for a golden duck against Rajasthan Royals.
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Meanwhile, Rohit has started the season in style, scoring a blistering 78 off 38 balls to guide Mumbai Indians to victory against Kolkata Knight Riders in a high-scoring chase of 221.For Mhatre, though, that meeting with his idol remains a defining personal milestone — one that continues to inspire his journey in the game.
