Dwelling hero Ravichandran Ashwin on Thursday mentioned he made a acutely aware effort to bat aggressively on the pink soil pitch laid out for the primary Check in opposition to Bangladesh. The ploy labored brilliantly as Ashwin obtained India out of a gap with a elegant hundred in entrance of his residence crowd. “It is an previous Chennai floor with a little bit of bounce and carry. The pink soil pitch permits you to play just a few photographs in case you are prepared to only get in line and provides it a little bit of a tonk when there’s width,” Ashwin informed the host broadcasters after the opening day’s proceedings.

“After all, I’ve all the time been wafting my bat round exterior off-stump. Labored on just a few issues and on a floor like this with a little bit of spice, if you happen to’re going after the ball, may as properly go after it actually arduous like Rishabh does.” 

Rishabh Pant too batted properly for his 39 off 52 balls earlier than falling to a unfastened stroke. On a day India misplaced their top-four for 96, Ashwin confirmed exceptional management and dominated the Bangladesh bowling in his good 102 not out from 112 balls in a gritty rearguard effort, whereas forging an unbroken partnership with Ravindra Jadeja (86*). This was Ashwin’s sixth Check ton. By the way, MS Dhoni has additionally obtained six take a look at centuries.

Ashwin attributed his robust efficiency to his latest stint within the Tamil Nadu Premier League, the place he labored on his batting. “It helps that I’ve come again after a T20 event (TNPL). I labored fairly a bit on my batting,” he mentioned.

“It is all the time a particular feeling to play in entrance of the house crowd. It is a floor I utterly like to play cricket in. It is given me plenty of fantastic reminiscences,” Ashwin, who slammed his second hundred at this venue, mentioned.

Jadeja Amongst Finest Batters

Ashwin additionally acknowledged the help of his teammate Jadeja throughout a difficult part of the innings.

“He (Jadeja) was of actual assist. There was a time limit the place I used to be sweating and getting a bit drained. Jaddu seen it rapidly and guided me by way of that part,” Ashwin mentioned, praising Jadeja’s skill to supply essential recommendation on the proper second.

“Jaddu has been considered one of our greatest batters for the crew in the previous few years. His presence was strong, and his recommendation that we did not should convert twos into threes was actually useful for me.” 

The duo’s 195-run alliance for the seventh wicket took India from a wobbly 144/6 to a commanding 339/6 at stumps on day one.

Waiting for the subsequent day, Ashwin mentioned: “It is a typical, old school Chennai pitch the place overspin will fetch a little bit of bounce.

“The wicket will begin doing its tips a lot later within the sport. There’s sufficient in it for the quicks—good carry, good bounce if we current the seam good and arduous.

“The brand new ball will do a bit, and we’ll have to begin afresh tomorrow. It is nonetheless damp beneath, so hopefully because it dries out, it quickens up,” he added.