India’s R Ashwin set a new record on Thursday (September 19) when he scored an unbeaten century against Bangladesh on Day 1 of the first Test in Chennai.
Local boy Ashwin rescued India with a fine 102 not out off 112 balls with 10 fours and two sixes at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
Batting at No. 8, the 38-year-old Ashwin registered his sixth Test century in the company of Ravindra Jadeja (86 not out). Ashwin also equalled former captain MS Dhoni’s tally of Test centuries. Dhoni finished his 90-Test career with six centuries and 33 half-centuries and tallied 4,876 runs.
When Ashwin scored his century, he became the first cricketer in Test history to have 20 50-plus scores and take 30-plus five-wicket hauls.
Ashwin, playing in his 101st Test, now has 3,411 runs and 516 wickets. He has six centuries and 14 fifties in Tests to go with 36 five-wicket and eight 10-wicket hauls.
Ashwin and Jadeja have added 195 runs for their unfinished seventh wicket partnership. This is the highest seventh-wicket partnership at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, surpassing the previous best of 138 between Jadeja and Karun Nair against England in 2016.
The 195-run stand is also the highest seventh wicket partnership for India against Bangladesh in Tests, eclipsing 121 between Sourav Ganguly and Sunil Joshi in 2000.
They came together at the crease when India were in trouble at 144 for six. At stumps, India were 339 for six in 80 overs, recovering from early blows.
Speaking to the host broadcaster after the day’s play, Ashwin said, “Always special to play in front of the home crowd, it’s a ground I completely love. Last time I got a hundred here, you [Ravi Shastri] were the coach. It does feel special. Helps that I’m coming off a T20 tournament, and worked quite a bit on batting and playing shots. I’ve always been giving the ball a waft.”
