'I don't know what to tell Rohit' - Ravi Ashwin on Indian skipper calling him an 'all time great'

After the conclusion of the first Test against Sri Lanka, Rohit Sharma heaped praises on senior Indian spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin, post the latter overtaking Kapil Dev’s Test wicket tally and going on to become the second-highest wicket-taker for India. However, Ashwin has revealed being unsure as to how he should be reacting to the lavish compliments from his captain until the two met at the breakfast table the next morning.

Ashwin admitted not being the best at taking compliments and termed himself as being ‘emotional’. He further went on to say he was grateful for Sharma’s praise for him but was not able to find words to express his gratitude. However, the 35-year old used the opportunity at the breakfast table to thank his captain for his appreciation. Notably, Sharma, while talking to the press post the first Test went on to call the off-spinner ‘an all-time great’.

“I don’t know what to tell Rohit. I am very bad at receiving compliments. I don’t really know how to react. Sometimes I can get emotional but I cannot really coin those words when I am emotional. Rohit went out into the press conference and lavished praise on me and I didn’t really know how to react until this morning. At the breakfast hall I said that was very sweet of him,” Ashwin said in an interview with bcci. tv.

Ravi Ashwin’s journey to being India’s second-highest Test wicket-taker

When Charith Asalanka was caught by Virat Kohli off Ashwin’s bowling in Mohali, the Chennai-born bowler registered his 435th Test scalp for India. With that, Ashwin went past Dev’s wicket tally of 434. He now sits only behind legendary Indian spinner, Anil Kumble, who picked up 619 Test wickets for India.

Ashwin made his debut in the longest format of the game back in 2011 and has since played 85 Tests for India, picking up his 436 wickets so far at an impressive average of 24.26.