Ravichandran Ashwin’s recent exploits at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai have been nothing short of magical. Earlier this year, the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) honored him at a special ceremony to celebrate his incredible achievements, including his 100th Test match and crossing the 500-wicket mark. Just last month, he led his TNPL side, Dindigul Dragons, to their maiden title, showcasing his prowess with the bat in crucial matches, including the Qualifier-2 and the Final.
On Thursday, he added another feather to his cap by scoring his sixth Test century for India, his second in as many Tests at this iconic venue. “This is a ground I completely love to play cricket in. It’s given me a lot of wonderful memories,” Ashwin shared with the host broadcaster after the day’s play.
The 38-year-old attributed his recent success to the hard work he put in during the TNPL. “It helps that I’m coming off a T20 tournament where I worked quite a bit on batting and playing shots. On a surface like this with a bit of spice, if you’re going after the ball, you might as well go after it hard like Rishabh (Pant) does,” he explained, emphasizing his aggressive approach to batting.
He further added, “It’s an old-school Chennai surface with bounce and carry. The red soil pitch allows you to play a few shots if you are willing to just get in line and give it a bit of a tonk when there’s width.”
Ashwin also credited Ravindra Jadeja for his invaluable support during their unbeaten 195-run partnership. “Jadeja was of real help. There was a point when I was starting to tire, but Jaddu helped me through that phase. He’s been solid and one of our best batters. He told me we don’t have to convert two’s into three’s, which was useful for me,” quipped Ashwin. This partnership was instrumental in India’s recovery after a shaky start on the first day of the first Test against Bangladesh.
Ashwin’s century at Chepauk was a beautiful blend of skill, experience, and a touch of magic. It was a celebration of his love for the ground, his recent form, and the power of strong partnerships in cricket.
