‘I don’t know what to tell Rohit and how to react’: Ashwin recounts unusual breakfast hall chat with India team captain

The first Test between India and Sri Lanka at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali will truly remain memorable for the Rohit Sharma-captained side. The biggest reason is that R Ashwin will replace legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev at the second spot in the list of highest wicket-takers for India in the longest format.
The skipper lavished praise on the off-spinner after the Test concluded. Speaking to bcci.tv recently, Ashwin admitted he feels awkward when receiving compliments and described how he dealt with his skipper afterward.

“I didn’t really know how to respond to Rohit’s compliments. I am very bad at receiving compliments and I don’t know how to react. Sometimes I get emotional, but I am unable to say the words when I am emotional. Rohit went out to 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 the interview.
To lead his side to an innings and 222 runs win on your captaincy debut is a huge achievement for Rohit. Right-arm spinner Ashwin reserved special praise for the India opener and gave an insight into his leadership.

“We all know how tactically strong Rohit is, but I saw a lot of human element in the way he led the team. He cared about how everyone felt and how their confidence helped the engine room run properly.”.

Ashwin described the manner in which Rohit looked after Jayant, the third spinner in the game. Jayant was under-bowled, so he wanted to rotate the bowlers, even for the declaration. He wanted Jadeja to get a double hundred, but Jaddu said it was not that important, and it would take some time, he explained.