R Ashwin on Test career and love for Chepauk: 'The reasons I play the game has changed over the last 5 years'

Ravichandran Ashwin termed his match-winning century during the first India-Bangladesh Test in Chennai as a “special knock” and said that batting is something that came in naturally for him. His ton in the first innings of the Test was his sixth century in the format and his second at Chepauk, which is his home ground. Ashwin was named Player of the Match for his heroics.

Ashwin also recalled his early days in Test cricket when he had “huge shoes” to fill while coming in to the squad to replace Harbhajan Singh.

“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. Constantly people have doubted if I could deliver in red-ball as I came from IPL, lots of people have come and helped me. Once upon a time this ground was concrete blocks and my first experience was watching from Mac B stand, watching Sachin Tendulkar.

“One day I wanted to be on this particular ground and play. My first IPL contract was given here, some energy pulls me into this ground, I don’t know how much longer but I love coming back here. I don’t want to go thinking I want to get a 100, I want to get a fifer though,” he told official broadcasters Sports18 after the first Test.

He forged a 199-run stand with Ravindra Jadeja for the seventh wicket as India posted 376 in the first innings. India defeated Bangladesh by 280 runs in the first Test in Chennai on Sunday, with knocks from Ashwin (113), Ravindra Jadeja (86), Shubman Gill (119) and Rishabh Pant (109) being the major highlights. In the second innings, Ashwin registered figures of 6/88 to see off Bangladesh for 234 after the visitors were set a target of 515.

‘One of the best batters’

Ashwin further spoke on his competition with the Saurashtra all-rounder and termed him as one of the best batters in the Indian team. “There might have been competition in the past, the last 4-5 years, you can call it maturity or age or getting old, there is a lot of understanding on what kind of bowling you need to do on a certain day. He 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,” explained the Tamil Nadu cricketer.

“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,” stated the South Zone cricketer.

‘Now he embraces me at home’ 

Ashwin further recalled the role his father has played in helping him develop as one of the world’s top cricketers. “He has taken a step back now, he used to kick me out of the house and ask me to play, now he embraces me at home. For me it’s about enjoying the game now, the reasons I play the game has changed over the last 5 years, quite an influence my wife has had on me,” he said.

IND vs BAN | R Ashwin sets multiple records and more stats from Day 1 of first Test

The off-spinner, however,  said that bowling comes first for him. " Quite a special knock on the first day, didn’t sink in until day two. Glad I ended up with a few wickets today as well. I make a living by bowling. Bowling comes first. Batting is something that comes naturally.

“Over the last few years, I have tried to compartmentalize both but it is a work in progress,” he said at the presentation ceremony.

Bangladesh were dismissed for 149 in their first innings reply to India’s 376, but the hosts did not enforce the visitors a follow-on. India declared their innings at 287/4 in the second innings following centuries from Gill and Pant. That meant India set Bangladesh a target of 515, but Ashwin and Jadeja shared nine wickets between them to dismantle the Tigers. India lead the two-match Test series 1-0. The second Test will be played in Kanpur from 27 September.