Cricket has always been more than a game to me—it's been my passion, my dream, my way of life. But, from a long time in my childhood, I found myself on the sidelines more often than not, struggling to catch my breath when all I wanted was to chase the ball.

My name is Rohit Vilas Londhe, and I was diagnosed with asthma at just 6 years old. Growing up, I loved cricket, but every time I played, I would get breathless. It wasn't just on the field—soon, I started feeling short of breath and started coughing while walking too. Despite my love for the game, I couldn’t play as it worsened my condition.

My parents took me to a doctor who prescribed me cough syrup. I followed the treatment, but my symptoms only worsened. Soon, I was dealing with wheezing, chest tightness, and sleepless nights. My parents realized something wasn’t right.

They again took me to a doctor who ran some tests where I had to blow into the spirometer device and confirmed that I had asthma and needed treatment with inhalers. My parents were worried and very hesitant about the inhaler because they thought it would not be safe and would make me dependent on them.

The doctor then carefully explained that the inhaler wouldn’t create any dependency and it was a critical part of my treatment. He reassured my parents about the benefits of inhaler treatment. With this understanding, my mom made sure I used the inhaler exactly as prescribed. With the right medications, a clear action plan, and my family’s support, I finally got healthy enough to keep pursuing my dreams.

Since then, I’ve made incredible progress. I even won a state-level cricket match for my college and was named Man of the Match. That moment showed me that if you work hard and don’t give up, anything is possible. Watching cricketers like Shubman Gill, who works so hard on his fitness, has also inspired me—he's my favorite player.

Besides cricket, I’m passionate about AI engineering and plan to study it in Pune while continuing my cricket coaching. I believe, I can balance both my career and my passion. Even though asthma is a part of my life, I don’t let it define who I am. With the right care and support, I know I can achieve my dreams. Asthma is not my identity—it’s just a part of my journey.

Disclaimer: An initiative issued in public interest by Cipla for general awareness only & NOT INTENDED NOR IMPLIED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE, DIAGNOSIS, OR TREATMENT. Please consult your doctor/a healthcare professional before starting any treatment/medicine/ inhaler. Cipla shall not be responsible for any direct, indirect, consequential, or other damages arising therefrom. Cipla & its participants in the post disclaim any liability arising from the use of its content. The CIPLA mark and logo are the sole intellectual property of Cipla Limited.