Chennai Test: Astral Ashwhin helps India fight back against Tigers with a tonne

Ravichandran Ashwin hits his sixth Test tonne to help India fight back after losing six wickets inside the tea break of day one of the Chennai Test against Bangladesh.

Hasan Mahmud was the hero of Bangladesh on the day, taking four wickets with three in the first session after choosing to bowl first, winning the toss. Later, Nahid Rana and Mehidy Hasan Miraz took one wicket each.

Before the tea break, India were stuttering, losing six wickets, and Bangladesh were hoping to wrap up India for a smaller total.

But at that point, Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja made up a strong partnership. At the end of the day, their partnership reached 195 runs. While Ashwhin remained not out, scoring a hundred, Jadeja stood at 86.

Bangladesh managed to use the early moisture of the wicket well with their pace attack led by the young lads like Hasan and Nahid. But they failed to keep up the momentum in the later part of the day.

Pacers were at the forefront of Bangladesh’s attack on day one. Mehidy has also helped them to keep the Indian batters at bay. He bowled 21 overs and took one wicket. Shakib Al Hasan, Bangladesh’s main spinner, also bowled for eight overs but without luck.

“It‍‍`s an old-school Chennai surface with bounce and carry,” Ashwin said at the end day’s play. “(It’s) Always special to play in front of a home crowd; it‍‍`s a ground I completely love. It does feel special.”

With this century, Ashwin became only the fifth cricketer to have scored multiple centuries and multiple five-fors at the same venue. He now has two hundred and four five-fors in Chennai.

Ashwin praised his partner Jadeja for inspiring him when he was sweating and feeling tired. According to the batter, Jadeja advised him not to stress too much about converting the doubles to three runs, which helped him release the pressure in the middle.

India finished the day‍‍`s play at a respectable 339 for six. Despite losing six wickets before Tea, reaching a score near 350 is certainly a positive for India, giving them some breathing room as they head into the second day.