Ravichandran Ashwin struck his fifth Test hundred on the third day of the ongoing second Test between India and England at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, his 106 helped the home team set a target of 482 runs for the visitors in the final innings.
Ashwin, batting at number 8, came in with India in a bit of bother at 106/6 but then added 96 runs for the seventh wicket with skipper Virat Kohli (62) and after his departure took on the responsibility to score quickly, adding 84 runs with Kuldeep Yadav, Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Siraj for the last three wickets as India, before becoming the last man to be dismissed.
His 106 off 148 balls with 14 fours and 1 six ended any hopes that England had of a realistic comeback in the match on a pitch that is testing the technique of every batsman. Ashwin had earlier taken 5/43 with the ball in the first innings and added another wicket of Rory Burns before stumps with England tottering at 53/3.
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When talking to Star Sports about how it felt to get a ton on his home ground, he said, “I'm just thinking how I'm just going to recover and sleep through the night, that is all that I am thinking about right now,”
On batting with last-man Siraj (16*) while closing in on his hundred, Ashwin said it felt amazing to see how excited the fast bowler was for his hundred and credited the team environment. He also lavished praise on Siraj for his confident strokes that helped the partnership add crucial runs against a tiring England attack.
Ashwin explained: “In the past, he's [Ishant Sharma] been with me when I got hundreds at home and once Siraj came, I knew I had to get it done in a few overs.
I was thrilled for his batting and told him to go through the line of the ball. It was amazing to see how excited he was when I got my hundred, says a thing or two about the Indian dressing room. I don't know what the team is feeling like but I am sure they are thrilled. I can't thank the crowd enough, they have been very supportive.” he added.
The spinner will now hope to add few more wickets on the fourth day to his tally and help India level the series 1-1 before heading to Ahmedabad for the pink-ball Test.
