Sun Sep 22 12:00:42 UTC 2024: ## Ashwin’s Birthday Gift: 10th Player of the Match Award as India Dominates Bangladesh
Chennai, India – R Ashwin celebrated his 38th birthday with a bang, securing his 10th Player of the Match award in a dominant 280-run victory for India in the first Test against Bangladesh in Chennai. The off-spinner’s all-round heroics included a century and a six-wicket haul, contributing significantly to India’s resounding win.
Ashwin, who was eager to keep his post-match interview shorter than captain Rohit Sharma’s, joked about a playful challenge from the captain. “He’s waiting to see how long this will go on for,” Ashwin said with a smile, as Rohit laughed in the background.
Ashwin’s performance in the Chennai Test was truly remarkable. He and Ravindra Jadeja rescued India from a precarious position on Day 1, putting on a 199-run partnership for the seventh wicket. He then followed up his century with a five-wicket haul in the final innings, showcasing his mastery over both bat and ball. This was the fourth time in his career that he achieved the double feat of a century and a five-wicket haul in a single Test match.
Reflecting on his performance, Ashwin acknowledged the challenges of compartmentalizing his thought processes for batting and bowling. “I make a living by bowling, so bowling comes first,” he said, “but I’ve focused my thoughts with batting. The compartmentalisation is work in progress.”
With his six wickets in the final innings, Ashwin closed in on Nathan Lyon’s record for most Test wickets. He now sits at 522 wickets, just eight wickets behind Lyon. Ashwin will be aiming to continue his stellar form in the second Test against Bangladesh, scheduled to begin in Kanpur on September 27.
First Piper 