The No. 1 bowler and the second-ranked allrounder in ICC Test rankings, India’s veteran off-spinner called the opportunities he got in the match a stage from where he could “fight and dig in deep” to deliver for his team.
“Every time I play in Chennai, it’s an amazing feeling for me. I have watched a lot of Test cricket and international cricket sitting in those stands,” Ashwin said at the post-match presentation after being named the ‘Player of the Match’.
Ashwin, who marked his 101st Test with a match-winning all-round show, now has 3422 Test runs to his name and a mountain of 522 Test wickets.
“I am probably enjoying my play because of what I am doing. It was an opportunity to fight and dig in deep. I kept it simple, I have to thank (Ravindra) Jadeja who helped me,” said Ashwin about his 199-run stand with fellow all-rounder Jadeja in the first innings, which rescued India from a concerning 144 for 6 to score 376.
“Quite a special knock, didn’t sink in till day two,” said Ashwin about his century.
But the first 38-year-old Indian bowler to take a five-for in a Test innings doesn’t miss the chance to reiterate that he is a bowler first.
“I make a living by bowling. Bowling comes first. Batting is something that comes naturally. Over the last few years, I have tried to compartmentalize,” he said.
Jadeja, who tops the ICC rankings for Test all-rounders, scored 86 in his big partnership with Ashwin and took five wickets in the match, including three in Bangladesh’s second innings on Sunday.
The second Test begins on September 27 in Kanpur, for which India have retained the same squad.
