IND vs BAN 1st Test: Ravichandran Ashwin smashes fastest century of his Test career on Day 1

Ravichandran Ashwin scored the fastest century of his Test career on Day 1 of the IND vs BAN 1st Test in Chennai on Thursday. Ashwin took 108 deliveries with the help of 10 fours and 2 sixes to reach the milestone.

When the veteran bowling all-rounder came to the crease, Team India's score was 144 runs for 6 wickets. This had no effect on Ashwin and he batted aggressively along with Ravindra Jadeja.

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Ashwin's second century at Chepauk 

Ashwin has scored his second consecutive century at the Chepauk Stadium in Chennai. India played its last Test on this ground against England in 2021. Ashwin also scored a century in the second innings of that match. Chepauk is also the home ground of Ashwin, who plays domestic cricket for Tamil Nadu. It was on this ground that Ravichandran Ashwin made his debut in first class cricket in 2006.

First century against Bangladesh

Ashwin, who made his Test debut for India in 2011, has scored the century for the first time against Bangladesh during the IND vs BAN 1st Test series. Earlier, four out of his 5 centuries had come against West Indies. A century was scored against England on this very ground. Now he smashed a century against Bangladesh as well. Earlier, his biggest innings against Bangladesh was 58 runs, which came in the Chattogram Test in 2022.

Ashwin equals MS Dhoni's Test record

Ashwin also produced his sixth Test hundred during the IND vs BAN Test to equal the legendary cricketers MS Dhoni and Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi's Test centuries tally. Dhoni registered just six centuries in his 144 Test innings while Ashwin took 144 innings to equal his tally.

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Ashwin along with Ravindra Jadeja took over the innings

India's score at one time was 144 runs for 6 wickets. Even scoring 200 runs was looking difficult from here as most of India’s recognized batters were back into the pavilion with Rohit Sharma (6), Shubman Gill (0) and Virat Kohli (6) failing to leave a lasting impact. Only Yashasvi Jaiswal held fort with 56 runs but he was also dismissed while Rishabh Pant (39) and KL Rahul (16) also following him.

After that, Ashwin along with Ravindra Jadeja took over the innings. Both were set in the first session and in the third session, the bowlers were beaten fiercely. Ashwin completed his fifty in just 58 balls. India's run rate was above 5 in the last session of the day.

Meanwhile, Ashwin and Jadeja remained unbeaten at the end of the IND vs BAN Day 1 play as India managed to post a challenging total of 339/6 in 80 overs. Ashwin remained unbeaten on 102 runs off 112 balls with the help of 10 fours and two sixes while Jadeja scored 86* off 117 balls.