Ravichandran Ashwin made history as the first cricketer to score over 20 fifties and claim more than 30 five-wicket hauls in Test cricket. This remarkable feat sets him apart in the 147-year history of the longest format of the game.
Ashwin reached this milestone during the first Test against Bangladesh at his home ground, the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. In a challenging situation with India at 144/6, Ashwin formed a crucial partnership with Ravindra Jadeja, scoring an unbeaten 102 off 112 balls, including 10 fours and two sixes. His strike rate of 91.07 reflected the aggressive nature of his innings.
A Century and a Crucial Partnership with Jadeja
In his Test career, Ashwin has recorded 36 five-wicket hauls, ranking him third among bowlers with the most such performances. Alongside this, he has six centuries and 14 half-centuries, making him the only cricketer to have achieved over 20 fifties and 30 five-wicket hauls in Test cricket. Additionally, Ashwin holds four Test centuries from the lower order (number eight or below), trailing only New Zealand’s Daniel Vettori, who has five centuries from that position.
Ashwin’s record at the MA Chidambaram Stadium is equally impressive. In five Tests at the venue, he has scored 331 runs at an average of 55.16, including two centuries and a fifty. He has also taken 30 wickets at an average of 23.60, with his best bowling figures being 7/103. His performance at the ground includes four five-wicket hauls and a ten-wicket match haul.
Ashwin’s contributions place him among elite all-rounders in Test cricket, such as Garfield Sobers, Kapil Dev, Chris Cairns, and Ian Botham, who have also achieved multiple five-wicket hauls and centuries at a single venue.
In the match, Bangladesh opted to bowl first and dismantled India’s top order, reducing them to 34/3. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant helped stabilize the innings, and later, Ashwin and Jadeja’s 195-run partnership pushed India to 339/6 by the end of the day. Hasan Mahmud starred with the ball for Bangladesh, taking 4/58 and wreaking havoc on India’s top order.
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