IND vs BAN: Epic! Ravichandran Ashwin haunts Bangladesh again with 6th Test hundred in home ground Chennai
Xtra Time Web Desk: Ravichandran Ashwin scored his 6th Test hundred to haunt Bangladesh once again on Day one of the first Test in Chennai on Thursday, September 19. Ashwin got to his hundred in 108 balls as his innings consisted of 10 boundaries and 2 sixes.
Ashwin had come in to bat with India in all sorts of trouble at 144 for 6 as the top order completely failed and KL Rahul was dismissed for 12. Ashwin, along with Ravindra Jadeja, would steady the ship the hometown boy being the aggressor in the 195 partnership. After playing some delightful shots off the pacers, Ashwin and Jadeja would turn their attention towards the spinners, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Shakib Al Hasan.
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Ashwin would make his intentions clear against Shakib with a delightful six that got the fans excited as he got to his fifty off just 58 balls. Ashwin wouldn't take the foot off the accelerator as he and Jadeja ensured India went past the 300-run mark and took control of the game for the first time in day one. Ashwin did have a couple of close shaves as the ball got the edge and went past the slips. Ashwin would bring up his hundred with an easy single.
A stellar TON when the going got tough!
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 19, 2024
A round of applause for Chennai's very own - @ashwinravi99 ????????
LIVE - https://t.co/jV4wK7BgV2 #INDvBAN @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/j2HcyA6HAu
Tamil Nadu cricketer Ashwin has played numerous domestic matches at Chennai’s Chepauk Stadium. Of course, there’s also his international cricket experience. This is why the team management often takes input from him regarding this pitch. However, this time the pitch is different. It’s a red-soil pitch, has bounce, and some grass as well. At the start, Bangladesh’s pacers had India on the back foot. In this tough situation, Ashwin stepped in and scored a century with ease.
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Previously, Ashwin had five Test centuries, including one on foreign soil. This time, his century on his home ground lifted India from the edge of defeat to the driver’s seat. He came to the crease when scoring runs was the primary goal. Had he played defensively, India would have fallen further behind. His counter-attacking play and brilliant running between the wickets built a crucial partnership. He completed his half-century in 58 balls. When he played an on-drive on the 106th ball, the crowd was ready to applaud. Rohit expected it to go for a boundary, but they managed just 2 runs. After reaching 99, everyone awaited the next ball. He completed his century in 108 balls, including 10 boundaries and 2 sixes. It was his second Test century in front of his home crowd.
