Former Bangladesh opener Tamim Igbal reckons Ravichandran Ashwin is as big a star as the veteran duo of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma after India’s 280-run win against the Tigers at the Chepauk Stadium, Chennai on Sunday. Since India is a batting love country, Kohli and Rohit have been the centre of attraction in the last decade.
However, Ravichandran Ashwin once again proved why he is such a big match winner for India, especially in the home conditions. Ashwin scored a fine knock of 113 runs in the first innings and added 199 runs with Ravindra Jadeja, who scored a fine knock of 86.
Ashwin also delivered with the ball in the second innings after going wicketless in the first essay. The veteran off-spinner returned with impressive figures of 6-88 and bagged his 37th five-wicket haul in Test matches.
“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,” Tamim said while talking to Jio Cinema.
Ashwin, on the other hand, admitted he is enjoying his game because of what he is doing and he isn’t thinking too far ahead.
“Every time I play in Chennai in front of this crowd, it’s an amazing feeling for me. I have watched a lot of Test cricket and international cricket sitting in those stands. To play in front of those stands, it’s a beautifully renovated stadium now, that itself is a special feeling for me. I am probably enjoying my game because of what I am doing and not because of what I want to get out of it. It was an opportunity to fight and dig in deep, that’s one of the reasons why we all play the game.”
Ashwin bagged the Player of the Match for his all-round performance.
The second Test match between India and Bangladesh will be played at Green Park, Kanpur from September 27.
