Ravichandran Ashwin sets unique Test record with sixth century

CHENNAI: India’s bowling all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin on Thursday, etched his name into the record books with a fighting century against Bangladesh on the opening day of the first Test here at MA Chidambaram Stadium.

Ashwin became the first batter in the history of Test cricket to register 20 fifty-plus scores, coupled with more than 30 five-wicket hauls.

The right-handed batter walked out to bat at No.8 with India reeling at 144/6 and turned the game on its head with a counterattacking partnership with Ravindra Jadeja.

The duo dominated the Bangladesh bowlers and remained undefeated until the Stumps were called. They added 195 runs for the eighth wicket to put India into a dominant position being six down with 339 runs on the board.

Ravichandran Ashwin smashed 10 fours and two sixes amid his record-setting century.

The all-rounder now has 36 five-wicket hauls, six centuries and 14 half-centuries to his name in Tests.

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Furthermore, Ashwin, from a batting position eight or below, now has four centuries, only behind legendary New Zealand all-rounder Daniel Vettori, who scored five tons.

Ashwin boasts an impressive all-round record at MA Chidambaram Stadium, having scored 331 runs at an average of 55.16 with the help of two centuries and a fifty in five Tests and seven innings.

He also has 30 wickets at an average of 23.60 at the same venue with the best bowling figures of 7/103. Ashwin has also registered four five-wicket hauls and a ten-wicket haul at the same venue.

As a result, Ravichandran Ashwin joined an elusive list of all-rounders like Sir Garfield Sobers, Kapil Dev, Chris Cairns and Ian Botham, who have multiple centuries and five-wicket hauls at a venue.

It is worth mentioning that India will resume their first innings at 339/6 against Bangladesh on the second day with Ashwin and Jadeja set on the crease.

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