IND vs BAN: Dazzling Ashwin century reminds India of his value as a batter

Ashwin celebrates his 100 against Bangladesh in the first Test in Chennai (X/BCCI)

By stumps, 144/6 had become 339/6, and Bangladesh had gone from being well on top to staring down the barrel. Since his debut in November 2011, Ravichandran Ashwin has been part of each of the 61 Tests India have played at home. But the ones that he’s missed away from home rankle with someone who takes such pride in his performances. Starting the season like this will go a long way to ensuring that he can’t be sidelined once India land in Australia later this year.

Given how India play Test cricket these days, it’s hard to accommodate both Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in the playing XI in less spin-friendly conditions abroad. On home turf, though, their contributions are priceless. A lethal double-act with the ball, they bailed India out with the bat on day one of the series against Bangladesh at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Ashwin’s dazzling 108-ball century led the way, and Jadeja’s unbeaten 86 (117 balls) wasn’t far behind as they added 195 to completely transform the complexion of the match.

A stellar TON when the going got tough!A round of applause for Chennai's very own - @ashwinravi99LIVE - https://t.co/jV4wK7BgV2 #INDvBAN @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/j2HcyA6HAu
BCCI (@BCCI) September 19, 2024

Ashwin turned 38 on September 17. Even though there isn’t a champion off-spinner waiting in the wings, it’s not unreasonable to assume that this will be the last World Test Championship (WTC) cycle that he is part of. And frankly, it’s hard to think of an Indian cricketer who deserves to get his hands on the Test mace more than he does. Having been omitted from the playing XI for the last final, against Australia in June 2023, it remains to be seen whether he will get another opportunity.

At Chepauk, mere miles from where he grew up playing street cricket, Ashwin took a big step towards ensuring that India will be part of that final. Bangladesh had dominated India in bowling-friendly conditions in the first two sessions of the opening Test. When tea was taken, India were precariously placed at 176-6. With the exception of Yashasvi Jaiswal, who largely curbed his attacking instincts to make a 118-ball 56, and Rishabh Pant, who marked his Test return with a swashbuckling 39, no batter had got the better of Bangladesh’s bowling attack. And with only the bowlers to follow, the onus was very much on Ashwin and Jadeja, his friend and rival, to guide India out of troubled waters.

That's Stumps on the opening Day of the Chennai Test! #TeamIndia slammed 163 runs in the final session, courtesy ton-up R Ashwin and Ravindra JadejaWe will be back for Day 2 action tomorrow! #INDvBAN | @IDFCFIRSTBankScorecard - https://t.co/jV4wK7BgV2 pic.twitter.com/LdgKN746Xe BCCI (@BCCI) September 19, 2024

Ashwin would be the first to tell you that a Test batting average of around 27 smacks of underachievement for someone of his ability. Having been a batter of repute during his school days, Ashwin now has six Test tons to his name. He has frequently excelled in difficult conditions, and famously saved India a Test in Sydney while battling terrible back spasms.

But in 29 Tests between January 2017 and January 2021, Ashwin made just one half-century, while averaging just 16.72. Jadeja averaged 49 in that period, with 11 half-centuries and a hundred. As Ashwin’s batting fell off a cliff, it was perhaps understandable that Ravi Shastri, the coach, and Virat Kohli, then captain, began to view Jadeja as the first-choice all-rounder.

This, then, was a welcome reminder of what Ashwin the batter can still offer. In a crisis, this was an incredible riposte. From the moment he steered Nahid Rana through point twice early on in his innings, he looked so at ease. The dangerous Hasan Mahmud induced two thick edges that didn’t go to hand, but there were some fabulous shots, including the cleaves over midwicket off Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz for sixes. He on-drove, swept and drove beautifully off the back foot, and by stumps, Bangladeshi shoulders hadn’t just drooped, they had almost collapsed.

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