Ravichandran Ashwin described his match-winning century during the first India-Bangladesh Test in Chennai as a "special knock" and stated that batting comes naturally to him.
His century in the opening innings of the Test was his sixth in the format and his second at Chepauk, his home field. Ashwin made 113 runs in the first innings and added 199 runs for the 7th wicket with Ravindra Jadeja to help India post 376 runs from 144/6.
Ashwin was chosen Player of the Match for his brave performance, as he also picked 6/88 in the Bangladesh second innings to help India win by 280 runs and go 1-0 up in the two-Test series.
Ashwin also recalled his early days in Test cricket, when he had "huge shoes" to fill as Harbhajan Singh's replacement in the side.
“I can’t really comment on what sort of impact I have had on this Test match. I had huge shoes to fill, I came in to replace Harbhajan, I used to replicate his action in junior cricket, he was an inspiration to me. Constantly people have doubted if I could deliver in red-ball as I came from IPL, but lots of people have come and helped me. Once upon a time, this ground was concrete blocks and my first experience was watching from Mac B stand, watching Sachin Tendulkar.
One day I wanted to be on this particular ground and play. My first IPL contract was given here, some energy pulled me into this ground, I don’t know how much longer but I love coming back here. I don’t want to go thinking I want to get a 100, I want to get a fifer though,” he told official broadcasters Sports18 after the first Test.
“There might have been competition in the past, the last 4-5 years, you can call it maturity or age or getting old, there is a lot of understanding on what kind of bowling you need to do on a certain day. He is one of the best batters in the Indian team, maybe even in the world, and he is a trusted batter, Jadeja walking out gives a lot of calmness to the team. He helped me a lot through my innings.
He told me, looks like you are batting really well, you need to buckle down like you are facing your first 10 balls, talking about leaving a few more balls. That partnership comes with experience and batting a lot together,” Ashwin said about Ravindra Jadeja.
Indian bowlers Jasprit Bumrah (4/50) and two wickets each by Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, and Ravindra Jadeja curtailed Bangladesh's first innings to just 149 runs, taking a lead of 227 runs.
Ashwin then picked 6 wickets, while Jadeja scalped three wickets as Bangladesh was bowled out for 234 runs chasing 515 and lost the Test by 280 runs.
The off-spinner, however, said that bowling comes first for him.
“Quite a special knock on the first day, didn’t sink in until day two. Glad I ended up with a few wickets today as well. I make a living by bowling. Bowling comes first. Batting is something that comes naturally. Over the last few years, I have tried to compartmentalize both but it is a work in progress,” Ashwin said.
Ashwin further recalled the role his father has played in helping him develop as one of the world’s top cricketers.
“He has taken a step back now, he used to kick me out of the house and ask me to play, but now he embraces me at home. For me it’s about enjoying the game now, the reasons I play the game have changed over the last 5 years, quite an influence my wife has had on me,” he said.
India lead the two-match Test series 1-0. The second Test will be played in Kanpur from 27 September.
(Sports 18 inputs)
