India vs Bangladesh 2024: Ravichandran Ashwin equals MS Dhoni’s THIS Test record, appreciates Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja’s batting effort

New Delhi: Local hero Ravichandran Ashwin played one of the best counter attacking innings in the history of Test cricket on the first day of the 1st Test against Bangladesh at the Ma Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Thursday, September 19. His century got India out of trouble and formed an amazing partnership of 195 runs with Ravindra Jadeja. “It’s an old Chennai surface with a bit of bounce and carry. The red soil pitch allows you to play a few shots if you’re willing to get in line and give it a bit of a tonk when there is width,” Ashwin told the host broadcasters after the opening day’s play.

“Of course, I have always been wafting my bat around outside off-stump. Worked on a few things and on a surface like this with a bit of spice, if you’re going after the ball, might as well go after it really hard like Rishabh does,” said Ashwin.

Rishabh Pant batted well on his return to Test cricket, he scored 39 off 52 deliveries before getting out by playing an unnecessary shot. On the first day India lost top-four for 96 runs, Ashwin played with intense control and dominated the Bangladesh’s bowling department with excellent 102 not out off 112 deliveries, and forged an unbeaten partnership with Ravindra Jadeja who scored unbeaten 86 runs. This was Ashwin’s sixth century in Test cricket. Interestingly, MS Dhoni has also scored six Test centuries.

Ashwin credited his strong performance to his recent stint in the Tamil Nadu Premier League, where he focused on improving his batting skills. “It helps that I’ve come back after a T20 tournament (TNPL). I worked quite a bit on my batting,” he said.

“It’s always a special feeling to play in front of the home crowd. This is a ground I completely love to play cricket in. It’s given me a lot of wonderful memories,” Ashwin, who slammed his second hundred at this venue, said.

Ashwin highlighted the importance of the support from Jadeja’s end during a tough phase of the game.

“He (Jadeja) was of real help. There was a point in time where I was sweating and getting a bit tired. Jaddu noticed it quickly and guided me through that phase,” said Ashwin.

“Jaddu has been one of our best batters for the team in the last few years. His presence was solid, and his advice that we didn’t have to convert twos into threes was really helpful for me.”

The team was rescued from a precarious 144/6 by a 195-run partnership between the duo for the seventh wicket, which helped take it to a strong 339/6 by stumps on day one.

“It’s a typical, old-fashioned Chennai pitch where overspin will fetch a bit of bounce,” Ashwin said looking ahead to the second day.

“The wicket will start doing its tricks much later in the game. There’s enough in it for the quicks—good carry, good bounce if we present the seam nice and hard.

“The new ball will do a bit, and we’ll have to start afresh tomorrow. It’s still damp underneath, so hopefully as it dries out, it quickens up,” he added.