Ashwin shared an unbroken 195-run stand with Jadeja after India were reduced to 144-6 on the first day of the first Test.
India’s Ravichandran Ashwin scored a quickfire century and combined with Ravindra Jadeja in an epic rearguard action as the hosts overcame a top-order collapse to reach 339 for six against Bangladesh on the opening day of the first Test match.
Bangladesh seamer Hasan Mahmud’s three-wicket haul in the morning session sent India reeling at 34-3 inside the first hour at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal made 56 but it was the marathon unbroken 195-run stand for the seventh wicket between Ashwin and Jadeja that helped India claw their way back into the competition.
Ashwin, who was unbeaten off 112 balls, hit 102 runs and his sixth century in a Test, including 10 fours and two sixes. Jadeja, who hit 86 runs, was closing in on his fifth century in a Test.
“On a surface like this with a bit of sting, if you are going to go for the ball, you better go for it with a lot of force…” Ashwin said.
“It’s the old Chennai surface with a bit of bounce and carry, and the red clay pitch allows you to play some shots.
“If you’re willing to line up… and you can put some power on the ball, it really helps.”
Bangladesh are in fine form following their 2-0 series sweep in Pakistan earlier this month and dominated the first two sessions after captain Najmul Hossain Shanto elected to take the field.
Home skipper Rohit Sharma (six) needed 11 balls to get going and survived a vociferous lbw appeal before handing Hasan to Shanto at second slip.
In his next over, Hasan caught Shubman Gill behind him to tickle the ball down the leg side.
Virat Kohli also fell to a soft dismissal, moving away from his body to be caught behind for six.
However, challenging conditions and departing fielders could not slow Jaiswal down, with the opener delivering some superb drives and exquisite flicks.
Rishabh Pant (39), playing his first Test since a horrific car accident in December 2022, cut and pulled fearlessly and scored quickly to put the pressure back on the bowlers.
Hasan broke the 62-run lead shortly after the lunch break when Pant’s slow delivery to a delivery outside the off stump led to another soft dismissal.
Nahid Rana put an end to Jaiswal’s flowing knock and spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz removed KL Rahul before Ashwin combined with Jadeja to launch a spectacular counter-attack.
