A counter-attack for the ages: Ashwin’s love story with Chepauk continues

Ravichandran Ashwin at Chepauk has always been a different gravy, particularly in Tests. 

And on Day 1 of the first Test against Bangladesh, with India’s backs against the wall, the veteran produced one of his best batting performances ever, smashing his second-fastest fifty in Test cricket.

Ashwin scored his fifty off just 58 balls, just missing out on scoring his fastest-ever Test fifty, a 56-ball fifty against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in 2012. 

Ashwin is usually known for grinding it out down the order, but on this occasion, the right-hander came out all guns blazing. 

At 144/6, India were in all sorts when Ashwin walked in. But the 38-year-old smashed one off Nahid Rana through backward point on just his second delivery to set the tone for his counterpunch. He then hammered another one off the back foot in the same Rana over to race to 11* off 7 balls.

After this quick start, the runs kept coming for Ashwin. He got to 20 off just 18 balls and 30 off 33 balls. 

It was his assault against Shakib Al Hasan, however, that proved to be a sight to behold.

With the pacers on song, Bangladesh did not introduce Shakib until the 53rd over of India’s innings. But both Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja were in no mood to let Shakib settle once he came into the attack.

Jadeja swept Shakib to the fine-leg boundary on the first ball of the left-arm spinner’s spell, and Ashwin slog-swept the all-rounder for a massive six on the very first ball he faced against Bangladesh’s talisman.

At 47 off just 48 balls, Ashwin was primed to score his fastest-ever fifty in Tests. However, some very disciplined bowling from the duo of Rana and Shakib managed to keep the right-hander quiet. But Ashwin still ended up bringing his fifty off just 58 balls. 

By the time the 38-year-old got to his fifty, the rescue job was complete. He had taken India from 144/6 to 233/6, shattering Bangladesh’s dreams of bowling India out cheaply. 

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