R Ashwin Emulates MS Dhoni, Rahul Dravid with Historic Test Hundred at Chepauk
In an educative display of grit and sheer determination, R Ashwin made his name in the record books as he pulled off a spectacular hundred in the first innings of the opening Test between India and Bangladesh at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. What Ashwin did on the opening day of the Test match, however-the sixth of his life-saved India at a rather precarious stage of the innings and, in the process, added to his own legacy alongside cricketing greats MS Dhoni and Rahul Dravid. Here’s a look at Ashwin’s mind-boggling feat and how it fits in with the larger narrative of Indian cricket history.
Century That Would Be Remembered-Game Changer for Ashwin
Ashwin walked in at No. 8 and joined the Indian innings at a precarious 144 for six in 42.2 overs. The situation called for solidity and smart aggressiveness in equal measures, and Ashwin did just that on both counts. The moment Ashwin walked into the middle, he looked at ease, going at the bowling with force, finding gaps with an uncanny precision.
Ashwin’s fifty came off 58 balls, and in that process, he looked all intent and also possessed the skill to play a counterattack, should it be required. He then went on to score his hundred off 108 deliveries as well-an evidence of his great timing and shot selection. Till stumps on the day, Ashwin was still at the crease, unbeaten on 102, and the partnership with Ravindra Jadeja had not only bailed India out of a tight corner but had put the group in complete command at 339 for six.
Stand with Ravindra Jadeja: A record-defining partnership
It was a solid anchor set by Ravindra Jadeja that made Ashwin’s knock possible. Together, the duo stitched a monumental 195-run partnership for the seventh wicket, the kind of record one would see on Day 1 of any Test match. This was the joint highest stand for the seventh wicket or lower, surpassing the New Zealanders Daniel Vettori and Jesse Ryder’s effort of 186 runs for the ninth wicket against India back in 2009.
While Ashwin let go to entertain the proceedings with his strokes, Jadeja was his usual anchoring self as it was up to him to ensure that India rebuild themselves from its early collapse. This stand was also important in changing the momentum of the match and frustration began to develop in the Bangladesh bowlers who had gone on to dominate the proceedings by taking the initial driving seat.
Ashwin’s Century : A Record Breaking Feat.
More feathers to a cap that is already unbelievably illustrious, Ashwin’s hundred at Chepauk added to his tally. His 102* put him level with the number of Test centuries scored by MS Dhoni and Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, India’s two most revered captains. For Ashwin, it is his sixth Test hundred-a distinction he has achieved through illustrious careers for a player who primarily plays the role of a spinner.
By doing so, Ashwin became one among the rare breed of cricketers who have succeeded in registering centuries and five-wicket hauls at the same venue. He was only the fifth player to join the list that included some of legends like those who achieved that at Headingley by Gary Sobers, Kapil Dev at Chennai, Chris Cairns at Auckland, and Ian Botham at Headingley.
He was joining the pantheon of the legends, with Dravid, Mankad, and Merchant-the Milestone of Age
Ashwin is 38 now. He has rejected every logic as he hits a Test hundred against Bangladesh. After the age of 38 years, Ashwin has become only the fourth Indian to have scored a Test hundred at that age. Rahul Dravid, Vinoo Mankad, and Vijay Merchant are the other cricketers in this elite list. All of them were regarded as among the best batsmen in Indian cricketing history.
Ashwin’s diligent work now pays the dividend that he continues to contribute with the bat well into his late 30s also-it is also a testimonial to his fitness and skill and proper game knowledge. The value of having him down the order is also very valuable, as he tends to be a savior there in critical situations.
He scored back-to-back hundreds on successive days at Chepauk
Chepauk has been a special venue for Ashwin, and he once again underlined his love affair with the ground by becoming the first cricketer to hit hundreds in back-to-back Tests at the venue. The record was first broken by Sunil Gavaskar, then by Sachin Tendulkar, Allan Border, and Duleep Mendis, so the achievement by Ashwin becomes all the more important.
Though he hasn’t quite been consistent in Chepauk, the general temperament and resilience with which he plays shows him to be well adapted to that tricky pitch. That would make him one of the most reliable players for India, especially on home turf.
He joins a line of legendry allrounders joining the passing parade of Subramaniam, Madan Lal, Bhagwat Chandrasekhar, and Chandu Borde before him.
Ravi Ashwin is not writing record books for the first time, and this latest feat only adds to his ever-growing legacy as one of the finest all-rounders in Test cricket. In fact, he will be the first player ever in the game who will have scored 20 fifty-plus scores and taken 30 or more five-wicket hauls in Tests. Such a sensational record speaks for its truth as to how multi-dimensional he has remained both within the disciplines and in terms of how they reflect his all-roundness.
As for Ashwin, no more excellent knock in Test cricket than a century at No. 8 exists. And Ashwin’s century at No. 8 also places him second in the list of most Test hundreds scored by a batsman at that position. He trails only New Zealand’s Daniel Vettori, who holds the record with five centuries. Ashwin has always been somebody who can deliver those crucial runs down the order and his latest knock has once again reminded everyone how precious he is to the team.
Hasan Mahmud of Bangladesh: The Bright Spark
While Ashwin and Jadeja hogged the limelight for India, Bangladesh, however, had their hero in the form of Hasan Mahmud. The pacer bowled with pace and accuracy, and at the end took figures of 18-4-58-4. Hasan’s early breakthroughs put India on the back foot, as he sent Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli back into the hut to reduce India to 34 for three inside the first 10 overs.
It was later in the day that Maharaj came back to grab the big wicket of Rishabh Pant, who was just starting to look dangerous. His performance on Day 1 reminded everyone that Bangladesh has good days ahead in Mahmud, whose ability to swing the ball at good pace might trouble even the best batsmen.
Conclusion: A Day for the Record Books
R Ashwin will talk about this innings at Chepauk for the rest of his life. The duo-Ashwin and Jadeja-saw to it that India never slid into trouble on a day when India looked perilously in danger. Ashwin bailed India out at the same time cementing himself all the way to the top of history in a scale comparable with just a few of the greats.
Scores which will be etched in the memory and milestones reached in such a manner during Ashwin’s innings, an exciting Test series unfolds for India as it looks to move on from here from a great position of strength. Ashwin’s name will continually echo with that player, who followed in the footsteps of MS Dhoni and Rahul Dravid, but found his own niche within the Indian cricketing history book.
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