'As big as Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli': Ravichandran Ashwin elevated to GOAT status by Tamim Iqbal

Bangladesh National Cricket Team star Tamim Iqbal lavished rich praise on India National Cricket Team all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin after his heroics in the first Test. He said that he has always heard about Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma but the off-spinner is equally important for the team.

India National Cricket Team came up with the dominating effort in the first game of the two-match Test series against the Bangladesh National Cricket Team. They won the game by the massive margin of 280 runs as they bagged important World Test Championship points and also went 1-0 up in the series.

The major factor behind India winning the first Test of the series was Ravichandran Ashwin. The all-rounder came up with a sensational effort with bat and ball at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, which was also his home ground, and saw his family there too, for the game.

Ravichandran Ashwin thrived under pressure for his team as he came up with a magnificent century in the first innings when India was left tottering at 144/6. From there, he bailed the team out of trouble and made sure that he took them to a total of around 380 as he added 199 runs in partnership with Ravindra Jadeja.

Ashwin slammed his 6th Test ton and he ended up with 113 runs off 133 balls and also hit 10 fours and 2 sixes in his innings. He displayed a magnificent stroke play and put the team in a dominating position.

After that, Ashwin came up with a staggering effort with the ball. The off-spinner picked 6 wickets with the ball and helped India win the game. He returned with the figures of 6/88 as the hosts bundled out the opposition for 234 runs to win the game by a huge margin.

Ravichandran Ashwin also jumped to the eighth spot in the highest wicket-takers list in Test cricket. He went past Courtney Walsh's tally of 519 scalps. Thanks to his rollicking effort with the bat and ball, he also won Man of the Match in the first game.

What I always hear is Virat Kohlis and Rohit Sharmas but Ravichandran Ashwin is equally important in my eyes - Tamim Iqbal

Tamim Iqbal was in awe of Ravichandran Ashwin's effort in the first Test. The former Bangladesh skipper said that people always talk about Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli but the all-rounder is as big as the two batting greats. Speaking on Jio Cinema, he elaborated:

"That was brilliant what he did, he was batting like a proper batter. I come from a different country. What I always hear is Virat Kohlis and Rohit Sharmas but Ravichandran Ashwin is equally important in my eyes.

"Because we only talk about when they do well, when they get the hundreds, they get five six wickets. But their contribution to this Indian team is immense. It’s as big as Rohit as big as Virat Kohli."

India have taken a 1-0 lead in the series and now would be keen to win the second game of the series. The match will take place on 27th September at Green Park in Kanpur.