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India made a strong start to their Test season with a resounding 280-run victory over Bangladesh in the first Test at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Ravichandran Ashwin played a pivotal role in India’s triumph, both with the bat and the ball.
Ashwin’s 199-run partnership with Ravindra Jadeja in the first innings helped India recover from a shaky start. The veteran spinner then claimed a six-wicket haul in the fourth innings of the match to secure India’s dominant win.
Virat Kohli’s heartwarming gesture
In a heartwarming gesture, Virat Kohli was seen bowing down to R Ashwin after the spinner dismissed Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Kohli’s action, which quickly went viral, showcased the respect and admiration he has for Ashwin.
Here’s the video:
Virat bows down to Ashwin 😭💙 so wholesome! pic.twitter.com/eYKVWr9xKl
— P ✨ (@ssnoozefest) September 22, 2024
Also READ: IND vs BAN – List of major records broken by Ravichandran Ashwin in the Chennai Test
Ravichandran Ashwin reflects on his performance
After the match, Ashwin expressed his satisfaction with his performance and the team’s victory. He acknowledged the pressure he faced to replace Harbhajan Singh, a legendary spinner, and expressed his gratitude for the support he has received throughout his career.
“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,” said Ashwin.
The local lad also highlighted the importance of preparation and experience in his success. He mentioned his training in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) as a key factor in his performance.
“Generally here [at the Chepauk Stadium] when you hit the ball it doesn’t travel faster, but this was a different pitch, felt like back in the 2010s, what helped was the preparation I put in while playing TNPL. I had a good preparatory camp before TNPL and also had a good finish in the TNPL. That helped me here,” he added.
The veteran off-spinner even threw light on his partnership with Jadeja, emphasizing their understanding and experience. He noted that Jadeja’s calm presence and batting abilities provide a sense of stability to the team.
“He [Ravindra Jadeja] is one of the best batters in the Indian team, maybe even in the world, 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, who was adjudged Player of the Match for his all-round show, added further.
