5 Times Ravi Ashwin Saved India From Embarrassment With The Bat In Test Cricket

Ravichandran Ashwin [X]Ravichandran Ashwin [X]

Bangladesh made a power-packed start against India in the first Test of the Bangladesh tour of India at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Courtesy of a brilliant spell by Hasan Mahmud, the visitors had India reeling at 34/3 inside the first ten overs. 

After this, India tried to fight back with a few small partnerships. But Bangladesh kept chipping away with the wickets, and with Tea approaching on Day One, they had India on the mats at 144/6. This is where India started their comeback. Along with Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin stitched together a partnership that got India out of trouble and put them in the driver’s seat by the end of the day’s play. Ashwin completed a brilliant Hundred and remained unbeaten, while Ravindra Jadeja remained undefeated on 86 off 117 deliveries. 

But this is not the first time Ravi Ashwin has delivered with the bat for India in Test cricket under pressure. Here are five other occasions when Ashwin saved India from embarrassment with the bat in Test matches - 

5. 72 vs England at Mohali (2016): A Crucial Comeback

Ravichandran Ashwin during his 72 vs England [X]Ravichandran Ashwin during his 72 vs England [X]

It was the third Test of the series, and India were struggling at 156/5 in reply to England’s first innings score of 283 when Ravi Ashwin walked out to bat. Ashwin played a sparkling knock of 72 runs from 113 deliveries, bringing India back to the game. Alongside Ashwin, contributions came from Ravindra Jadeja (90 off 170) and Jayant Yadav (55 off 141), guiding India to a formidable total of 417. 

With a first-innings lead of 134, India bundled out England for 236 in their second innings. India easily achieved a target of 103 runs, losing only a couple of wickets in the last innings. 

4. 118 vs West Indies at St. Lucia (2016): A Match-Winning Partnership

Ashwin during his 118 vs Wets Indies [X]Ashwin during his 118 vs Wets Indies [X]

Batting first in the match, India were in deep trouble at 87/4 when Ravi Ashwin took to the crease. After the dismissal of Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha joined Ashwin in the middle, and the duo formed a partnership of 213 runs. Ashwin scored 118 off 297 deliveries, while Saha amassed 104 off 227 deliveries. The duo ensured that India got to a fighting total of 353 runs.

Bhunveshwar Kumar’s magic (5/33) rattled the home team, and they were bundled out for 225 runs in the first innings. With a 125-run lead in the first innings, India notched up 217/7 before declaring in their second gig. 

A target of 343 runs in the game's fourth innings proved too much for the home team as they were restricted to just 108, and India won the match by 237 runs.

3. 91* vs England at Eden Gardens (2012): Resilience Under Pressure

Batting first in the match, India scored 316 runs before Alastair Cook brought down his wrath on the bowlers. Carried by the skipper’s 190 off 377 deliveries, England posted a mammoth 523 runs in their first innings and took a lead of 237. 

The English bowlers again had the Indian team under pressure at 122/6 when Ashwin took guard. He showed remarkable resilience and fought with the lower-order batters, scoring 91* off 157 deliveries to take India to 247 and prevent an innings defeat.

Although England chased down the target of 41 runs, losing three wickets, and won the match convincingly, Ashwin's knock was a testament to his temperament and composure under pressure early in his Test career. 

2. 124 vs West Indies at Eden Gardens (2013): Turning the Game Around

West Indies posted 234 runs while batting first in this match. They had the Indian team in a spot of bother at 156/6 when Ravi Ashwin joined the debutant Rohit Sharma at the crease.

Ashwin and Sharma (177 off 301) scored 280 runs in the partnership and batted the visitors out of the match. Ashwin was stopped at 124 off 210 deliveries, while India posted 453, taking a lead of 219 runs in the first innings. 

Mohammed Shami led the Indian bowling in the second innings and picked up five wickets for 45 runs. West Indies managed only 168 in their second innings, losing the game by an innings and 51 runs. 

1.106 vs England at MA Chidambaram Stadium (2021): Battling Back to Safety

India batted first in this game and led by Rohit Sharma’s brilliant 161, posted 329 runs in the first innings. Ashwin first weaved his magic with the ball and picked up five wickets for 43 runs, playing a significant role in restricting the visitors to 134. 

With a lead of 195 in the first innings, India were left in a precarious position at 106/6 when Ashwin walked out to bat. India had a lead of 301 runs at this stage, and if they lost the last four wickets quickly, England might have had an outside chance of winning the match. 

However, Ashwin notched up a brilliant 106 off 148 deliveries and batted the visitors out of the game. India posted 286 in the second innings and set a target of 481 runs for England in the fourth innings. 

Led by Axar Patel (5/60), India bundled out England for 164 runs in the fourth innings and won the match by a massive margin of 317 runs.