‘I wish I could be him’ – Ashwin on India teammate after heroics against Bangladesh

IND v BAN, 1st Test, Scorecard

Ravichandran Ashwin showered praise on his trusted partner Ravindra Jadeja after the duo rescued India from a precarious position against Bangladesh.

India were in deep trouble on Day 1, having been reduced to 144/6 after being asked to bat first. However, Ashwin and Jadeja mounted a remarkable 199-run stand, shifting the momentum back in India's favour.

Their partnership, which remained unbeaten on 195 by the end of Day 1, was the highest for the seventh wicket or lower – they added four more runs on Day 2 before Jadeja was dismissed.

Ashwin, reflecting on his long-standing camaraderie with Jadeja, spoke in detail about their bond, forged through many years of playing together, in the IPL and rising through the ranks of Indian cricket.

“It’s happened [our partnership in cricket]. You don't plan for such things,” Ashwin said after the second day's play. “Jaddu's one cricketer who's evolved so nicely. I always envy him, I have made amply clear.

“So gifted, so talented. He's found ways to maximise his potential, keeps it really simple, can repeat it day in, day out. I wish I could be him, but I am glad I am myself.

“He's an exceptionally good cricketer, I am happy for him.

“In so many ways, watching him bat over the last couple of years has given me insights on how better I can be. Both of us have grown together, both of us have done some special things.

“We really value one another at this stage, and both of us are enjoying each other's success, more than ever before.”

Despite the MA Chidambaram Stadium's reputation for being a spinner-friendly surface, it was the pacers who dominated this time, claiming 19 of the 22 wickets that had fallen so far.

Ashwin, however, managed to find some turn on a few occasions and troubled the batters.

He expects the pitch to offer more assistance to spinners as the match progresses. “I think there's a little more up-and-down bounce. The wicket is getting slower,” he said. “There was a lot more help yesterday than there was today. The carry is still there, it's probably quickened up a touch and again gone on the slower side.

“I really do think as this game pans out, if at all it gets to the fifth day, it will turn, I am sure about that. The challenges going ahead in this pitch would be to negotiate spin, a little bit of slowness, not playing ahead.

“The longer we bat, the better it is. We'll give the surface its due course to be able to do its tricks on the batters."

Ashwin also commended Bangladesh for their resilience. “I think this Bangladesh team is one team that's come a long way so we need to keep the foot on the accelerator and keep going,” he said.

He is 38, but Ashwin's hunger for success remains undiminished.

With his 113 off 133 in the first innings, he equalled MS Dhoni's career tally of six Test hundreds, achieving it in two fewer innings than the legendary captain.

Ashwin now boasts four Test centuries, the most by any No.8 batter since Daniel Vettori. He is also now the only player in Test history with 20 fifty-plus scores and over 30 five-wicket hauls.

However, Ashwin continues to push his boundaries. "Happiness,” Ashwin said when asked what pushes him to do well. “You want to be good. You excel. You feel happy at the end of the day. It drives me towards that. Every time I do well, it leaves me in a good, happy state of mind.

“That's what you get on this journey for. You want to do well. You want to excel on the global stage. People are watching you and you feel happy about it."

At stumps on Day 2, India were 308 runs ahead after deciding against enforcing the follow-on, having bowled out Bangladesh for 149. They will resume at 81/3 with Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant at the crease.

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