As lunch arrived, the stadium was unusually quiet. Fans, especially those sporting Virat Kohli shirts, had fallen silent after his dismissal, almost like a scene out of A Quiet Place. But then R Ashwin stepped out, putting one foot in front of the other, as if to shake off the gloom of the morning. And just like that, the crowd began to stir.
By stumps, the score had transformed dramatically from a precarious 34/3 to a solid 329/6. The Kohli jerseys were now in full swing, fans on their feet, phones flashing, and cheers blaring.R Ashwin, sitting at 99 not out, clipped an easy single to bring up a century in conditions better suited for seamers than spinners. Fast bowlers had taken five of the six wickets, but Ashwin and his partner, Ravindra Jadeja, made their mark. A quick punch of Jadeja’s gloves at the other end signaled the seamless teamwork that had India in a stronger position.
When Ashwin came to bat, India was in trouble at 144/6. Bangladesh’s Hasan Mahmud, with some serious skills, was making the ball swing both ways, something only a few, like Dale Steyn, have managed on Indian soil. Ashwin, though, was unfazed. A smooth shot off a 142kph delivery got him going, and it became clear that this was going to be his day.
There aren’t many centuries scored by Indian batters coming in at No. 8 or lower—only 19, to be exact. But Ashwin had done it before, and today he made it look effortless, hitting boundaries with a calm mastery. His shots were on point: a stunning cover drive, a cheeky upper cut, and a couple of well-practiced sweeps, one for six and another for four. When asked about his aggressive approach, Ashwin casually mentioned that playing in a recent T20 tournament had helped him hone his batting.
India’s lower-middle order has often been their secret weapon, securing crucial victories and maintaining an impressive home record. The dressing room remained calm, with even captain Rohit Sharma watching part of the action while lying down. R Ashwin and Jadeja weren’t just surviving—they were thriving, scoring rapidly and showing no signs of backing down. By the end of the day, Ashwin’s century had brought joy to the Chennai crowd, who erupted in celebration.
At 38, this might be one of the last times Ashwin plays a Test match on his home ground. Surrounded by family and friends, he acknowledged them all after his century, with the stadium cheering him on. His record at this ground, where he averages over 55, stands among the greats of Indian cricket. And on this day, just after his birthday, it was clear: this day belonged to R Ashwin.