Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], September 14 (ANI): As the Indian cricket team gears up for their first Test against Bangladesh in Chennai, much of the spotlight will be on local hero and spin maestro Ravichandran Ashwin. With a history rich in memorable performances at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Ashwin is on the cusp of achieving significant milestones.

The two-match Test series between India and Bangladesh is set to commence on September 19 at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The second Test will follow on September 27 in Kanpur. This series marks the debut of head coach Gautam Gambhir, who is eager to start his tenure with a series victory.

Ashwin’s record at his home ground is nothing short of spectacular. In four Test matches played at this venue, he has bagged 30 wickets with an impressive average of 23.60. His best bowling figures here are a remarkable 7/103. Notably, Ashwin has recorded four five-wicket hauls and one ten-wicket haul at this stadium.

With the bat, Ashwin has also made significant contributions. Over six innings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, he has accumulated 229 runs at an average of 38.16, including one century and one half-century. His highest score at this ground is 106 runs.

Among his standout performances at this venue is his seven-wicket haul against Australia in 2013, which included a five-wicket haul in the second innings, totaling 12 wickets in the match. Another notable performance came against England in 2021, where after a tough loss in the first Test due to Joe Root’s double century, Ashwin bounced back with a five-wicket haul and a crucial century in the second innings, earning him the Player of the Match award for his all-round excellence.

In this series, Ashwin aims to add to his tally of 744 international wickets. He is just six wickets shy of reaching the milestone of 750 international wickets. Over his career spanning 281 international matches, Ashwin has taken 744 wickets at an average of 25.68, with his best figures being 7/59. He boasts an impressive record of 36 five-wicket hauls and eight ten-wicket hauls.

Ashwin stands on the brink of surpassing legendary bowlers such as West Indies’ Courtney Walsh (746 wickets), Sri Lanka’s Chaminda Vaas (761 wickets), and New Zealand’s Tim Southee (765 wickets), potentially breaking into the top ten wicket-takers in international cricket.

In Test cricket specifically, Ashwin’s rivalry with Australian spinner Nathan Lyon adds another layer of excitement. Ashwin currently holds 516 Test scalps, while Lyon has 530 wickets. Securing 15 more wickets would see Ashwin surpass Lyon, making him the seventh-highest wicket-taker in Test history.

For Rohit Sharma’s team, the series against Bangladesh will be followed by New Zealand’s tour of India for three Tests starting on October 16. This will be succeeded by the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia commencing on November 22.

India’s squad for the first Test against Bangladesh includes: Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Yash Dayal. (ANI)