Moulded in Tamil Nadu T20 league, aggressive Ashwin does a Rishabh Pant in Chennai

R Ashwin did a Rishabh Pant on a day when Pant himself left the job unfinished. The off-spinner, playing in front of his home crowd in Chennai, delivered a counter-attacking masterclass in whites, steering India out of trouble. Ashwin scored his fastest Test hundred (108 deliveries), helping India recover from a precarious position of 144 for 6 on the opening day of the first Test between India and Bangladesh, ending the day on a high at 339 for 6.
Much like India’s other dependable lower-order batters, Ashwin is no stranger to playing the role of a crisis man. The last time India and Bangladesh met in a Test, in Dhaka in December 2022, Ashwin teamed up with Shreyas Iyer to rescue India from 74 for 7 and guide them to a 145-run target. The last time Ashwin played in Chennai, he partnered with Virat Kohli to lift India from 106 for 6 with a second-innings century against England, scored at a strike rate of 70, amid heavy scrutiny of a spin-friendly pitch.
On Thursday, Ashwin reprised the crisis role, this time with more flair and aggression than ever before.
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Known for his keen eye for self-improvement, Ashwin made full use of the lessons he picked up during his recent stint in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL), particularly in tricky Chennai conditions. After his riveting century on Thursday, Ashwin was quick to mention the hard work he had put in during the off-season.
“It helps that I’m coming off a T20 tournament; I worked quite a bit on batting and playing shots,” he said after ending the first day’s play, unbeaten on 102.
Ashwin hadn’t played an international match since March, against England, before this Test. While some of his Test teammates competed in the T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies, Ashwin was busy with his YouTube shows. Ashwin then headed to lead Dindigul Dragons in the TNPL while India’s white-ball stars were playing in Sri Lanka under Gautam Gambhir’s first assignment as head coach.
Ashwin had set out to expand his range of big shots during TNPL 2024. He realised, during the 2024 IPL season, that he needed to hit more aerial shots square of the wicket.
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“Obviously, in the last IPL, I felt like I needed to widen my game and my horizons square of the wicket because I know I can hit the ball down the ground, and I can use my feet. But I had to ask myself, do I want to explore other options? If I can ask that question and find an answer, it gives me a new avenue to explore and keeps me interested in the game,” Ashwin told ESPNCricinfo during TNPL.
As captain of Dindigul Dragons, Ashwin promoted himself to No. 3 or as an opener, intent on adding to his repertoire as a batter. The move paid off as he unlocked a more aggressive side, showcasing an improved range of big shots, including sweeps and reverse-sweeps. He smashed 69 off 30 balls in a knockout game and followed it with a 46-ball 52 in the final, which his team won. Ashwin finished the season with 252 runs in 9 innings at a strike rate of over 150.
The fruits of that hard work were evident on Thursday in Chennai.
Ashwin walked into bat with India in dire straits, facing a Bangladesh side full of confidence after a 2-0 series win in Pakistan. Their 24-year-old pacer Hasan Mahmud made the most of the overcast, ‘London-like’ conditions in Chennai, taking four wickets in the first two sessions. Supported by Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Bangladesh reduced India to 34 for 3 and later to 144 for 6 on a pitch with a tinge of green and moisture beneath the surface.
Bangladesh would have hoped to wrap up India’s innings quickly and bat later in the day. But, as has often been the case, Ashwin and Jadeja stepped up, ensuring that the hosts ended the day on top.
Ashwin wasn’t just looking to survive — he took the attack to the opposition. He took on Nahid Rana, who was consistently clocking 140 kph. Ashwin’s first scoring shot, a punch through the off-side from the back foot, made his intentions clear. He struck two more boundaries off Nahid, refusing to be intimidated by the young seamer’s pace.
When Bangladesh brought in Shakib Al Hasan, Ashwin confidently flicked the veteran spinner for a six in his first over, a shot that validated all his hard work in the TNPL.
The assault continued as Ashwin punished both spin and pace, treating the final session like a T20 game, with ample support from his partner-in-crime, Jadeja.
“On a surface like this, it’s better to go hard, like Rishabh does. It’s an old-school Chennai surface with bounce and carry. When there’s width, you can give it a tonk. I love playing when there’s bounce and carry. I enjoyed myself today,” Ashwin said, reflecting on Pant’s inspiration for his knock.
“Jadeja was a huge help. There was a point where I was sweating and tiring, but Jaddu helped me through that phase. He’s been solid and one of our best batters. He told me we don’t need to turn twos into threes, which was useful for me,” Ashwin added.
Throughout his innings, Ashwin sprinted between the wickets, smashing 10 boundaries and two sixes to enthrall the Chepauk crowd. From elderly fans to teenagers, the local crowd was on its feet, celebrating their hometown hero.
Ashwin may not have many more opportunities to play Test cricket in Chennai, and it seems the all-rounder is intent on making the most of every session he gets at the iconic Chepauk as an India cricketer.