Ace India off-spinner R Ashwin revealed that new India Test captain Rohit Sharma wanted Ravindra Jadeja to get to his maiden double hundred in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Mohali which the home side won by an innings and 222 runs.
Jadeja was the star for the Indian side, as he made his highest Test score of 175* and picked a fifer in Sri Lanka’s first innings. He then returned with four wickets in the second innings as the visitors were asked to follow on after conceding a lead of 400 runs.
India batted first and made 574/8d and Sri Lanka managed just 174 and 178 in their two innings as Jadeja and Ashwin picked 15 wickets in between themselves.
However, the Twitterverse was not happy with captain Rohit Sharma and coach Rahul Dravid declaring the Indian innings with Jadeja on 175, robbing him of a chance to complete his maiden Test double century.
However, speaking to the BCCI, Ashwin highlighted how Rohit cared for everyone in the team even as he was trying to implement his tactics in the first Test against Sri Lanka.
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He revealed that Rohit, who took over as Test captain from Virat Kohli, wanted Jadeja to complete his double hundred before declaring the innings. Ashwin also shared how Rohit gave Jayant Yadav extra overs in the second innings as he wanted him to gain confidence despite playing as the third spinner.
But it was Jadeja who told the team management to not wait till he gets to the milestone. He missed out on his maiden double hundred but the India star became only the 6th cricketer to hit a hundred and pick up a 5-wicket haul in the same Test.
"Rohit, we all know, how tactically strong he is and how good he is. But I saw a lot of human elements in the way he led the side. He was looking out for anyone in the team, how everyone would feel, how everyone's confidence is important for the engine room to function.
The way he wanted to look after Jayant the third spinner was under-bowled but he wanted to look after him, wanted to rotate the bowlers. How he kept the fast bowlers from one end all through the match,” Ashwin said.
"Even beyond all these tactical things, he kept the game simple. When he wanted to declare, he wanted Jadeja to get a double hundred. Eventually, it was Jaddu who said it's not important and you should go for a declaration. So, all those things, I am sure Rohit is very, very experienced. I thought he did a phenomenal job," Ashwin added.
Ashwin further added that Rohit Sharma enjoyed his Test captaincy debut, saying that the newly-appointed skipper lived his dream by leading India in the longest format of the game, becoming the 35th Indian Test captain.
"Captaining India in a Test match is a matter of great pride and extreme honor for any Indian cricketer. Like I said, even that would not have been part of anyone's dreams, wearing the Indian jersey for one-day must have been their dream. I am sure lived his dream to the fullest on that particular day. To start off winning the toss was extremely important, it was a good toss. Obviously, he would enjoy that big margin of victory in his first match as captain," Rohit added.
Ashwin also spoke about Virat Kohli playing his 100th Test and added: "Virat Kohli, received the 100th Test match cap from Rahul bhai. He has his family by his side, his wife by his side. That would have been an extremely special moment as well for him. In fact, he went on to say that Rahul bhai was one of his idols, he had his poster on the wall. Some great memories."
India and Sri Lanka to play in the second Test in Bengaluru from March 12, which will be a day-night Test.
Here is the entire video of Ashwin speaking to BCCI:
(BCCI inputs)
