Shamik Chakrabarty in Chennai
In all likelihood, India will play the World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s next year. Whether Ravichandran Ashwin would be part of the playing XI is anyone’s guess. If the conditions call for going with just one spinner, then Ravindra Jadeja would be picked ahead of the veteran off-spinner.
This has been the Indian team’s trend-set over the last several years, especially in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia) countries. Ashwin has learned to live with the overseas snub.
At home, however, he is indispensable. It’s not just about spinning a web around the opposition batters. Ashwin is a genuine all-rounder in Indian conditions. On Thursday, the 38-year-old — he celebrated his birthday two days ago — once again proved his value as a batter.
The Chepauk pitch offered bounce and carry. The Bangladesh fast bowlers bent their back. At 144/6, India were precariously placed. Ashwin was peppered with a barrage of short deliveries. As is his wont, the champion cricketer softened his rivals with his game awareness before neutering the bowling with power-punch. He brought out the horizontal bat shots and picked the gaps to perfection.
Ashwin’s 102 not out off 112 balls, with 10 fours and two sixes, was a spectacular counter-attack on the heels of KL Rahul’s slow-going 16 off 52 balls. Bangladesh bowlers were taken aback. They surrendered the initiative.
At Chepauk, a few miles from where he grew up, Ashwin took a significant step towards ensuring India’s dominance in the first Test after losing the first two sessions. In the grand scheme of things, as a long Test season begins, his sixth Test hundred took India closer to the World Test Championship final.
“Always special to play in front of the home crowd. It’s a ground I completely love,” Ashwin told the host broadcaster after the day’s play. “Last time I got a hundred here (against England), you (Ravi Shastri) were the coach. It does feel special. Helps that I’m coming off a T20 tournament (TNPL). Worked quite a bit on batting and playing shots.”
He elaborated on his batting style. “I have always been giving the ball a waft. On a surface like this, it’s better to go hard like Rishabh (Pant) does. It’s an old-school Chennai surface with bounce and carry. When there is width, you can give it a tonk. Love playing when there is bounce and carry. Enjoyed myself today.”
Ashwin is a proud cricketer. He takes pride in his performances. When he gets dropped in overseas Tests, his pride is hurt.
At the 2023 WTC final, India dropped him. It proved to be a blunder, as Travis Head made merry. Will the next WTC final see an atonement? Nobody deserves to hold the ICC Test mace more than Ashwin does.
That’s for the future though. For the moment, the Indian team revels in a fantastic riposte, thanks to Ashwin and Jadeja.