Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], September 19 (ANI): Star Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin showcased his batting prowess by scoring his sixth century in long-format cricket during the first Test against Bangladesh on Thursday. Reflecting on his performance, Ashwin emphasized the importance of an aggressive approach, similar to that of teammate Rishabh Pant.

By the end of the first day, Ashwin remained unbeaten with a remarkable 102 runs off 112 balls, boasting a striking rate of 91.07. His impressive innings included 10 fours and 2 sixes, solidifying his role as a pivotal player in the match.

Speaking about the conditions at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Ashwin described the pitch as reminiscent of old-school surfaces, featuring substantial bounce and carry. He expressed his delight in playing on such a wicket, highlighting the support he received from fellow cricketer Ravindra Jadeja during their partnership.

“On a pitch like this, adopting an aggressive style like Rishabh Pant can be advantageous. The surface here in Chennai is classic with good bounce and carry, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Jadeja was instrumental in my innings; there was a moment when I felt fatigued, but Jaddu’s encouragement helped me push through. His advice on conserving energy by not pushing for extra runs was invaluable,” Ashwin shared in an interview with ESPNcricinfo.

Bangladesh opted to bowl first after winning the toss in this opening match of the two-Test series against India. India’s top-order faced a significant setback, collapsing to 34/3 early on. However, opener Yashasvi Jaiswal’s steady 56 off 118 balls, laced with nine boundaries, and Rishabh Pant’s quickfire 39 off 52 balls (with six fours), helped stabilize the innings. Their vital 62-run partnership for the fourth wicket brought India back into contention. Despite this recovery, India found themselves struggling again at 144/6.

It was Ashwin and Jadeja who turned the tide with an unbeaten 195-run stand. Jadeja’s unbeaten 86 off 117 deliveries, featuring 10 fours and two sixes, complemented Ashwin’s century, propelling India to a solid position at 339/6 by stumps.

Bangladesh’s Hasan Mahmud was the standout bowler, wreaking havoc on India’s top order with figures of 4/58. He dismissed key players including skipper Rohit Sharma (6), Shubman Gill (0), and Virat Kohli (6).

Bangladesh’s playing XI for the match included Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto (C), Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das (Wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, and Nahid Rana.

India’s lineup featured Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (Wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep, and Mohammed Siraj.