'It's a big thing to achieve that feat': Rohit Sharma hails India senior as an 'all-time great'

India captain Rohit Sharma hailed the player after his performance propelled India to a big win over Sri Lanka in the 1st Test.

India's new Test captain Rohit Sharma was effusive in his praise for senior Indian cricketer, hailing him as an all-time great, after his astounding feat during the first of the two-match series against Sri Lanka in Mohali where the hosts won by an innings and 222 runs. Rohit hailed Ravichandran Ashwin, who took six wickets in the first Test against Sri Lanka and in the process, went past former India captain Kapil Dev as the team's second highest wicket-taker of all time in Test cricket. Ashwin now has 436 Test wickets and is only behind Anil Kumble's 619 in the all-time list for Indian bowlers in the longest format of the game.

India were dominant in the 1st Test.  (AFP)

While Kapil, considered one of the greatest all rounders of all time, reached the mark in 134 Test matches, Ashwin has got there in just 85.

"It's a big thing in his cricketing career to achieve that feat you know," Rohit said when asked about Ashwin's feat. "When you grow up wanting to play Test cricket, you don't dream about these things and so to surpass that is a big achievement on his behalf. You know, I have been watching Ashwin for a long time now and every time I watch him, he seems to get better and better.

"Ashwin is one such player who always has confidence is in his ability in what he wants to achieve and for the team as well," the skipper said.

Currently listed at number nine among top-10 wicket-takers in world cricket, in Rohit's eyes, Ashwin is an all-time great.

"He is an all-time great in my eyes. He is playing for so many years and performed for the country. So many match winning performances, so for me he is an all-time great. People might have different point of views but from where I see, he is an all-time great for me," the stylish Mumbaikar added.

Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja put up an all-round masterclass to lead India to victory in the 1st Test. The pair put up a 130-run stand for the seventh wicket, which was India's best partnership as they scored a mammoth 574/8. While Ashwin scored 61, Jadeja remained unbeaten on a career best 175.

While Ashwin took two and four wickets in the two Sri Lankan innings, Jadeja took four and five wickets to end the match just one wicket away from becoming the first Test player ever to score a 150 and take 10 wickets in the same match.