Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], September 14 (ANI): As Team India gears up to face Bangladesh in the first Test match at Chennai’s iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium, all eyes will be on local hero and spin maestro Ravichandran Ashwin. The veteran spinner has several milestones within his reach and a treasure trove of memorable performances at his home ground, making this a highly anticipated encounter.

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

Ravichandran Ashwin boasts an impressive record at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. In four Tests at this venue, he has scalped 30 wickets at an average of 23.60, with his best bowling figures being 7/103. His accomplishments at this ground include four five-wicket hauls and a ten-wicket haul, underscoring his prowess as a premier spinner.

With the bat, Ashwin has also made significant contributions, amassing 229 runs in six innings at an average of 38.16. His highest score here is 106, a testament to his all-round capabilities. Noteworthy performances include a match-winning seven-wicket haul in the first innings against Australia in 2013, complemented by a five-wicket haul in the second innings, bringing his match tally to 12 wickets. Additionally, his all-round brilliance against England in 2021, where he notched up a century and took eight wickets, was instrumental in India’s comeback win after a tough first Test loss to Joe Root’s double ton.

Ashwin is also on the cusp of reaching another career milestone—750 international wickets. Currently, he has 744 wickets in 281 international matches at an average of 25.68, with his best figures being 7/59. His career includes 36 five-wicket hauls and eight ten-wicket hauls. Just six more wickets will see him reach this milestone and surpass West Indies’ legend Courtney Walsh (746 wickets), Sri Lanka’s Chaminda Vaas (761 wickets), and New Zealand’s Tim Southee (765 wickets), propelling him into the top 10 wicket-takers in international cricket.

In Test cricket alone, Ashwin is eyeing an intriguing rivalry with Australian spinner Nathan Lyon, especially ahead of their clash in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy later in November. Currently, Ashwin has taken 516 Test wickets, while Lyon stands at 530 wickets. Surpassing Lyon with an additional 15 wickets would make Ashwin the seventh-highest wicket-taker in Test history.

For Rohit Sharma and his team, this series against Bangladesh is crucial as it will be followed by New Zealand’s tour of India for three Tests starting on October 16. The highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia is scheduled from 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), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, and Yash Dayal.