Ashwin’s Chepauk Masterclass: The 38-Year-Old All-Rounder and Jadeja’s Partnership Lift India to Safet India has long prided itself on the strength of its batting, especially at home. The team’s ability to dig itself out of trouble has often come from unexpected sources.
 Ravichandran Ashwin, the 38-year-old veteran all-rounder, reminded everyone of his unrelenting love affair with the Chepauk pitch, once again pulling off a rescue act. His breezy hundred, coupled with a critical unbeaten 195-run partnership with Ravindra Jadeja, lifted India from the depths of peril to 339/6 after a shaky start against Bangladesh. The journey to safety, however, was far from smooth. After being reduced to a precarious 144/6, India's top order looked brittle, with Hasan Mahmud bowling a sensational spell of seam and swing, dismantling the top order with figures of 4/58. Yet, the tenacity of Ashwin and the steadfastness of Jadeja demonstrated India’s batting depth and the unshakable resolve that Indian cricket has cultivated over the years. ### A Dire Start for India From the outset, India’s innings seemed doomed to struggle. Within the first hour, the hosts were already in deep trouble at 34/3. Rohit Sharma, India’s skipper and lynchpin, was the first to go, edging behind to a delivery that swung away late. Shubman Gill followed suit, nicking one to the slips, and then Virat Kohli, India’s most dependable batter, also edged to the keeper, leaving the side gasping at 34/3. Hasan Mahmud was bowling with lethal precision, moving the ball both ways and keeping the Indian top order on edge. Amid this turmoil, Rishabh Pant made a brief appearance, offering some respite. In his first Test appearance in almost two years, Pant’s counter-attacking style injected a sliver of hope. His 39, though short-lived, came with typical aggression—standing out of his crease, pulling, flicking, and punching to keep the scoreboard ticking. Pant’s fight ended when he too fell to Hasan Mahmud, who claimed his fourth scalp of the day. India was now staring down the barrel at 144/6. ### The Ashwin-Jadeja Reprieve At this juncture, in walked Ravichandran Ashwin, a man who thrives on turning pressure into opportunity, particularly in Chennai. Chepauk has always held a special place in Ashwin’s career, and on Thursday, he rekindled that affection. From the moment he arrived at the crease, Ashwin seemed in control, playing his strokes with authority. His first boundary came from an imperious punch through backward point off the quick Nahid Rana—a statement of intent that this was not going to be just about survival. Bangladesh, until then firmly in control, started to lose their grip. Their bowlers, who had maintained discipline and focus, began leaking boundaries. As Ashwin and Jadeja batted together, a sense of calm returned to the Indian camp. Jadeja, as always, was the ideal foil to Ashwin. He played his natural game, holding up one end with composure while allowing Ashwin to dictate the pace of the innings. By the end of the day, the pair had batted together for almost three hours, facing 227 deliveries and taking India from 144/6 to a more comfortable 339/6. Ashwin’s innings, which was a blend of aggression and elegant stroke play, saw him reach his second century on Indian soil. This one came off just 108 balls, a far cry from his more measured hundred in Chennai in 2021 when he took 134 deliveries to reach the milestone. ### Bangladesh’s Missed Opportunities While Ashwin and Jadeja played outstandingly well, Bangladesh will be ruing the missed opportunities that allowed the pair to thrive. Earlier in the day, Yashasvi Jaiswal had scored a composed fifty, but Rana’s blistering pace—touching 148.6 kph—proved too much for him. Jaiswal’s edge was safely caught, and three balls later, KL Rahul, who had been batting with zen-like calm, fell to a brilliant catch by Zakir Hasan at short leg. These moments of brilliance from Bangladesh were, however, not capitalized upon. As the Indian lower-middle order staged its recovery, Bangladesh's bowlers began to waver, losing the consistency and menace that had troubled the top order. Boundaries flowed freely, and their fielding lost its sharpness. Ashwin, in particular, took full advantage, scoring 36 runs in the midwicket area alone, exploiting any loose deliveries. ### Ashwin’s Aggressive Century Ashwin’s approach was strikingly aggressive. His previous century at Chepauk in 2021 was a more measured affair—he took 64 balls to reach fifty and another 70 to complete his hundred. This time, however, he was on a mission to shift the momentum firmly in India’s favor. His first fifty came in just 55 balls, and by the time he reached his hundred, he had faced only 108 deliveries. Ashwin’s innings was a masterclass in playing spin and pace alike, with cuts, pulls, and drives flowing seamlessly. What made this innings stand out was how Ashwin never allowed Bangladesh’s bowlers to settle. He manipulated the field expertly, rotating the strike with Jadeja and hitting boundaries at regular intervals. His ability to dominate while still respecting good deliveries was on full display. This blend of controlled aggression and technical prowess is what makes Ashwin such a vital cog in India’s lineup, particularly in home conditions. ### Jadeja’s Silent Support While Ashwin took the spotlight, Ravindra Jadeja’s role in the partnership cannot be understated. Jadeja, known for his calmness under pressure, played the perfect supporting role. His 195-run stand with Ashwin was built on a solid defensive foundation, yet he too found ways to keep the scoreboard moving. His ability to absorb pressure and play long innings has often gone unnoticed, but Jadeja has quietly become one of India’s most reliable Test batsmen, especially in the lower-middle order. ### The Road Ahead for India Though India finished the day at 339/6, there is still much work to be done. Ashwin and Jadeja’s partnership may have pulled India out of immediate danger, but the threat of having to bat again looms large. Bangladesh will be eager to break this partnership early on Day 3, knowing that India’s tail can still be vulnerable. For now, though, India can breathe a little easier, thanks to Ashwin’s remarkable hundred and Jadeja’s steadying hand. The pair’s heroics have once again highlighted India’s incredible depth, both in batting and in character. As they head into the next day, India will be looking to extend their lead, with hopes of putting the game beyond Bangladesh’s reach.