IND vs ENG, 2nd Test: Ravichandran Ashwin smashes his 5th Test ton, lead goes past 450

Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin smashed his 5th Test hundred against England in the second Test of the four-match series on Monday. The local boy could do no wrong in the game as after achieving his 29th five wicket-haul in the format, he starred with the bat in hand as he became the top-scorer for his side in the second innings.

The helmet came off in a flash, with a wide grin on his face as he punched the air in delight as he achieved his 5th Test century, his first fifty-plus score at home since December 2016. 

India were struggling at 106/6 before he arrived in the middle and took the attack to England bowlers. While the skipper Virat Kohli was looking solid at the other end, taking his own sweet time and playing on the merit of the ball, Ashwin raced to 35 off 48 balls when Virat was on the same score off 70-plus balls. 

Ashwin was looking to be positive from the outset as took the aggressive mode to push India's scoring rate. It wasn't easy as he came in at a critical time when India were in desperate need of a partnership. Kohli's grit and determination at the other end gave Ashwin confidence to go for his shots, which started coming off one after the other.

The 33-year old off-spinner hit 14 fours and a six to notch-up another century and kept making the game better for him, after figures of 5/43 with the ball.

Owing to Ashiwn's blitzkrieg, India have now scored 270-plus in their second innings taking their lead past the 465-run mark, piling on the visitors' misery.