“He used to be a batter then, I used to bowl” – Rohit Sharma on playing along Ashwin.

In a heartfelt reflection on their enduring friendship, Team India captain Rohit Sharma reminisced about his shared journey with veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, especially highlighting their early days in the U-17 setup.

Rohit fondly recalled Ashwin’s prowess as a batsman and his own role as a bowler during those formative years. As Ashwin prepares to mark his 100th Test match milestone against England at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala, starting Thursday, March 7, Rohit expressed his congratulations.

Rohit Sharma on Ashwin playing 100th games said “I’d like to congratulate him first of all, for getting close to this 100-Test landmark – the toss hasn’t happened yet, so (laughs).”

Amidst the banter, Rohit emphasized the divergent paths their careers have taken since their youth, underscoring the significance of Ashwin’s achievement in reaching the coveted century mark in Test cricket.

“It feels good if you get to see the fruits of all the labour you put in. I’ve been watching him for so many years. We played together in the Under-19s – we played in the Under-17s too – and he used to be a batter then, an opener, and he started bowling later. I used to bowl then, but I became a batsman, so it’s all gone upside-down, but it’s gone well for Indian cricket,” Rohit said.