Sun Sep 22 09:50:50 UTC 2024: ## Ashwin Silences Doubters with Century and Seven Wickets in India’s Win
Chennai, India – Ravichandran Ashwin has once again proven his doubters wrong, leading India to a dominant victory over Bangladesh in the first Test in Chennai. The veteran all-rounder, who made his Test debut as a replacement for legendary off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, silenced critics with a match-winning performance, scoring a crucial century and taking seven wickets in the first innings.
Ashwin, who rose to prominence in the Indian Premier League (IPL), has often faced skepticism about his ability to perform at the highest level in Test cricket. However, with 101 Tests and 522 wickets under his belt, the 38-year-old has firmly established himself as one of the game’s greatest.
“Constantly people have doubted if I could deliver in red-ball as I came from IPL,” Ashwin admitted after the match. “Lots of people have come and helped me.”
Despite the doubters, Ashwin has always maintained a strong focus on his bowling, considering it his primary skill. “I make a living by bowling, so bowling comes first,” he explained. However, his recent batting exploits have added another dimension to his game, and he credits his success to learning to compartmentalize the two aspects.
“Batting is something that comes naturally but I have focused my thoughts with batting. Over the last few years, I have tried to compartmentalize. It is a work in progress,” he added.
Ashwin’s century in the first innings was a testament to his resilience and determination. He emphasized the importance of the innings, saying, “It was an opportunity to fight, dig in deep. I’ve seen so many teammates do it in the past. It was a special innings.”
The Man of the Match performance once again underlined Ashwin’s remarkable ability to excel in all facets of the game. With his latest triumph, he has solidified his place among the greats, silencing those who ever doubted his Test credentials.
First Piper 