1st Test: Ravichandran Ashwin rescues Team India versus Bangladesh
What's the story
India's premier spin-bowling all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has made his presence felt with a clutch knock in the first Test versus Bangladesh. Ashwin surpassed 50 on Day 1 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The star off-spinner played a counter-attacking and rescuing knock after India were down 144/6 in the second session. He took India past 200 alongside Ravindra Jadeja.
Knock
A counter-attacking fifty from Ashwin
Bangladesh were on fire in the first hour after electing to field. They reduced India to 34/3. However, a productive partnership between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant avoided India's batting collapse. Jaiswal and KL Rahul then took India past 140 before India lost two more wickets. Ashwin and Jadeja attacked the Bangladesh bowlers in tandem thereafter. The former smashed a counter-attacking 58-ball half-century.
Bowling
India's second-highest wicket-taker in Tests
Ashwin is presently India's second-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, only behind Anil Kumble (619). The former owns 516 wickets from 100 Tests at a remarkable average of 23.75. His tally includes as many as 36 five-wicket hauls. In the ongoing series, Ashwin could surpass legend Courtney Walsh (519) and Nathan Lyon (530) in terms of Test wickets.