Ravichandran Ashwin played a crucial and resilient innings on the opening day of the Chennai Test between India and Bangladesh on September 19. India’s top-order crumbled early after being asked to bat first, leaving the team in a precarious position. Bangladesh’s speedster Hasan Mahmud wreaked havoc, dismissing key players like captain Rohit Sharma (6), Shubman Gill (0), Virat Kohli (6), and Rishabh Pant (39). With four wickets down and the top order back in the pavilion, India found themselves in deep trouble.
Yashasvi Jaiswal provided some resistance with a gritty 56 before falling to Nashid Rana. Despite his efforts, India was struggling at 144-6 when KL Rahul was dismissed. It was at this moment that Ravichandran Ashwin walked to the crease, ready to change the game’s momentum. Ashwin played a positive brand of cricket, attacking the Bangladeshi bowlers and forming a critical partnership with Ravindra Jadeja.
Their remarkable performance not only steadied the ship but also kept India from losing any more wickets for the remainder of the day. Ravichandran Ashwin’s incredible knock resulted in his sixth Test century, as he remained unbeaten on 102 runs, while Jadeja played a supportive and steady role, finishing the day on 86 not out.
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Together, they stitched a formidable 195-run stand, steering India to a more respectable 339/6 at stumps. Speaking about his performance, Ashwin expressed his joy at playing in front of his home crowd, highlighting how much the Chennai ground means to him. “This is a ground I completely love to play cricket in. It’s given me a lot of wonderful memories,” he said.
On his home ground in Chennai, Ravichandran Ashwin rises to the occasion yet again 🌟#WTC25 | 📝 #INDvBAN: https://t.co/dbZvGHP5Qc pic.twitter.com/qEcDVMeAyU
— ICC (@ICC) September 19, 2024
Ash Anna : “I’ve worked on my batting. I wanted to play positive cricket like Rishabh Pant does “#RishabhPant #ravichandranashwin #CricketTwitter #IndVsBan pic.twitter.com/4p9RtBQ5L2 pic.twitter.com/Vl0w4Ew1Lw
— RISHABH PANT FC 💙 (@ImYogi_17) September 19, 2024
Reflecting on his batting, Ashwin mentioned that he had put in considerable effort to improve his skills, stating, “I worked quite a bit on my batting.” He also emphasized the importance of attacking the ball when necessary, citing Rishabh Pant’s aggressive approach as a good example.
Commenting on the Chennai pitch, he explained that it’s an “old surface with a bit of bounce and carry” and that batters willing to play their shots can take advantage of it.
Ravichandran Ashwin credited Jadeja for his support during the partnership. “There was a point in time where I was really sweating and getting a bit tired, Jaddu noticed it quickly and guided me through that phase,” he noted. Ashwin praised Jadeja as one of India’s best batters in recent years, acknowledging how his presence at the crease made a difference.
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As for the pitch, Ashwin predicted it would become more challenging on the second day. “It’s a typical, old-fashioned Chennai pitch where overspin will fetch a bit of bounce. The new ball will do a bit, and there’ll be some help for the bowlers,” he added, setting the stage for an exciting continuation of the match.
