IND vs ENG: Ashwin notches up 5th Test Ton, achieves THIS unique milestone

A wide grin, quick removal of the helmet, and punching the air in delight, were on the show for the Chepauk crowd after all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin notched up his 5th Test century, first against a team, not named West Indies. Ashwin had to wait for almost five years to get a three-figure mark in the longest format after his knock of 118 against the West Indies at Gros Islet in 2016. This was also Ashwin's first fifty-plus score at home since December 2016.

Ashwin, unlike his usual self, took the aggressor's role and a calming influence of Virat Kohli at the other end helped Ashwin to take on the bowlers as the Chepuak crowd was up on its feet as the local boy continued on his golden run in the second Test, after taking his 29th fifer in the first innings with the ball.

By the virtue of this knock, Ashwin now has made a century and taken a five-wicket haul in the same Test match, thrice in his career. He is behind only the England great Sir Ian Botham, who has achieved the feat five times in his 102-match Test career.

Records Ashwin broke

Apart from that special milestone, Ashwin also did a couple of more records to his name. After Kris Srikkanth, Ashwin became the second Tamil Nadu player to score a Test century at their home ground in Chennai as the former explosive opener hit 123 runs against Pakistan during the 1986/87 series.

Ashwin also became the second batsman to hit a century, batting at No 8 in Chennai. Former Pakistan captain Imran Khan is the first one to achieve the record after his unbeaten 135 runs against India in the 1987 series.

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.