India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja congratulated R. Ashwin on his 100 Tests-500 wickets double with a special congratulatory message on Saturday, offering a Rajnikanth reference to their iconic partnership in Tests for India.

Ashwin became the first cricketer from Tamil Nadu to play 100 Tests and take 500 wickets in the red-ball format. He was felicitated by the BCCI and also the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) in Chennai during which Jadeja’s message popped up on the screen.

“Hi Ash Anna, congratulations on your 100th Test match and 500 Test wickets. I am very, very happy for you, and your contribution to Indian cricket has been amazing. You can continue taking a lot of wickets and sharing your mastermind with me so that I can also take a few wickets and become a great legend like you,” Jadeja said in the video from a Chennai Super Kings training session.

“He gave me an opportunity with the new ball,” Ashwin indebted to Dhoni for the rest of his life

“And we also share the same name as well. I am Ravi Indran and you’re Ravi Chandran. Meesha vachavan Indran, meesha vaykathavan Chandran (The one with the moustache Indran and the one without the moustache, Chandran),” Jadeja said referring to Rajnikanth’s iconic double role in the 1981 hit flick ‘Thillu Mullu’.

Ashwin and Jadeja are the most successful bowling pair in Tests for India. In just 53 matches together, Ashwin and Jadeja have stacked up 542 wickets – the highest for a spin pair in the format. They left behind the pair of Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh.

Ashwin and Jadeja also aggregate 10.23 wickets per match together, the best for any bowling pair in Tests for a minimum of 310 wickets.