IND vs SL: Ravichandran Ashwin Says Rohit Sharma Wanted Ravindra Jadeja To Complete His Double Ton

India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has revealed that Rohit Sharma wanted all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja to complete his double century in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Mohali, but it was Jadeja’s call to ask the captain to declare the innings and not wait for him to reach the milestone.

India demolished Sri Lanka in the first of the two-Test series which was played in Mohali by an innings and 222 runs. India batted first on a surface that aided spin and put on 574/8d. Rishabh Pant made 96 and Hanuma Vihari made 58 runs, while Ashwin himself made 61.

However, it was Ravindra Jadeja who stole the show with an amazing knock of 175*, which was his second Test century and surpassed his previous best of 100 against West Indies. Jadeja added 100 runs partnerships with three different batters in Rishabh Pant, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Mohammad Shami, piling on the agony for Sri Lankans.

Then with the ball, Jadeja picked 5/41 in Sri Lanka’s 1^st innings as Lankans crumbled for 174 runs. Trailing by 400 runs, Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne was asked to follow on by India captain Rohit Sharma in his debut Test as captain.

In the second innings as well, Jadeja picked four wickets, while Ashwin added 4 wickets more to his first innings haul of two scalps. In all, Jadeja picked 9 wickets and made 175* in India’s victory and was named Player of the Match.

I Saw A Lot Of Human Elements In The Way He Led The Side: Ravi Ashwin

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. He revealed that Rohit wanted Ravindra Jadeja to get to his double hundred in the first innings.

Jadeja 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.

India will now play Sri Lanka in the second Test in Bengaluru which will be a day-night Test match starting March 12.

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