Moments after two Chennai cricketers—one by birth and the other by association with the Chennai Super Kings—rescued India with a sparkling seventh-wicket partnership against Bangladesh, Ravichandran Ashwin celebrated his second consecutive century in front of a thrilled home crowd at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. This incredible feat was achieved through an unbroken 195-run stand that left fans in awe.

In seven Test innings at this venue, Ashwin now boasts two centuries and another fifty-plus score, underscoring his prowess on home turf. “Playing in front of the home crowd is always special,” he said. “This ground has given me so many wonderful memories. The last time I scored a hundred here, Ravi Bhai (Ravi Shastri) was the coach. It feels incredible,” Ashwin remarked, recalling his previous century of 106 against England in February 2021.

Ashwin has consistently been a dependable lower-order batsman for India, with two of his centuries achieved away from home, in the West Indies. At 38 years old, he revealed his continued commitment to improving his batting before the start of India’s home Test season. “Coming back from the T20 tournament (TNPL), I worked quite a bit on my batting. I’ve always been guilty of wafting my bat outside off-stump, so I focused on that. On a pitch with some spice, if you’re going after the ball, you might as well go after it hard, like Rishabh Pant does,” he explained. “This old Chennai surface has a bit of bounce and carry, allowing you to play shots if you get in line and give it a good tonk when there’s width.”

Ashwin also praised his long-term spin partner, Ravindra Jadeja, who contributed significantly with an unbeaten 86, helping propel India to 339 for 6 at stumps on the first day of the Test. “Jadeja was a real help. There was a point where I was sweating and tiring, but Jaddu helped me through that phase. He’s been solid and one of our best batters in recent years. He advised me not to convert twos into threes, which helped me immensely,” Ashwin said.

Having grown up playing at this venue, Ashwin predicted that there would still be enough assistance for the seamers as the Test progressed into its second day. “It’s a typical old-fashioned Chennai pitch where overspin will fetch some bounce. The wicket will start showing its tricks later in the game. There’s enough in it for the quicks—good carry, good bounce if we present the seam nice and hard. The new ball will do a bit; there’ll be some help for the bowlers. We’ll have to start afresh tomorrow. The pitch is still damp underneath, so hopefully, as it dries out, it will quicken up,” Ashwin concluded.

This innings is yet another chapter in Ashwin’s storied career, marked by resilience and skill both at home and abroad. His ability to adapt and thrive under pressure continues to inspire fans and teammates alike.