Chennai has been struck by one of the most dreadful disasters in its history. The city is under water due to relentless rains over the last few days. There have been about 279 casualties and numerous people have lost their life belongings in the horrible floods. While their city grappled with nature’s wrath, a couple of men had to focus on playing a Test match for India. R Ashwin and Murali Vijay were in Delhi, taking on the South African bowlers, unable to get in touch with their families for two days. “I felt very helpless. I was sitting here, my parents are back home, a lot of my friends are there and I couldn’t hear from them for over 48 hours,” Ashwin recalled the two difficult days he endured. “The worry for me was that the rivers had overflown and the water was rising at very proportional heights. It was very scary to watch on TV. What was all the more horrible was that the channel that we were viewing, were driving political mileage. The networks were jammed and you don’t know how to assume of what is happening there.” When Ashwin walked in to bat on the first day of the Test with his team on 198 for 7, he had no idea about the whereabouts or safety of his parents. It took a lot of mental and emotional strength for him to put it behind him and focus on what needs to be done to bat India in a strong position. And he did it, with a fighting knock of 56 en route to a 98-run partnership with Ajinkya Rahane, that took India to 334 in the first innings.

“It was quite horrible. I couldn’t sleep for two days – the night before the Test and the one after. It was only after I heard from my parents that I finally had some sleep. I asked my wife to get in touch with them or at least with someone from the area so that we know what the water is like there.

“But when you get on the field, you want to give your best – that’s what my mom and dad would have liked me to do. So, I just tried to put it all behind me and went out to bat. I thought it must have been even more horrible for Vijay because he had to go out there and bat first and he had just heard from his parents in the morning.” As Ashwin said, it was more difficult for Vijay because he had to go out there to open the batting after India won the toss.

“It was shocking. I have lived there all my life and have never experienced something like this,” Vijay said. “It was tough two days for us but I could finally reach my dad and spoke to him. Watching the videos, what stood out was the togetherness of the people of Chennai. It was unbelievable. It motivated me to get into this Test match. It was difficult to not be able to reach my people; suddenly they were out of contact. All I could do was walk in there and bat for my country.” Like Vijay, it was heartening for Ashwin too, to see how the people came together to help each other out in this time of distress. There were rescue teams on the roads, distributing food, medical aid and other necessities to people who were stuck. People opened their houses for those who had lost theirs in rain.

“What made me really happy as a Chennaite was that the community really stood up,” Ashwin said. “The common man won at the end of the day. I just hope the weather gods are a little more relenting on us for the next few days because the city cannot take any more rain. I would also like to thank the Prime Minister for allotting the amount of money that he has for the relief. I hope the money is spent wisely on what needs to be done for the city.”

Both Ashwin and Vijay vowed to do their bit to help their city and its people when they get back home from the Test series. “I am really gutted for the people who have lost their loved ones and everything in this disaster. Once the series is done, I would definitely put my best foot forward to help those people,” Ashwin said.

“My heart goes out to all those who have lost so much in these floods. When I go back home, it will be my first priority to help them in any way that I can,” Echoed Vijay.