Aakash Chopra praised R Ashwin for his match-saving knock of 102* in the Chennai Test, likening his ability to handle leg-side deliveries to that of VVS Laxman. Ashwin, alongside Ravindra Jadeja, rescued India from a top-order collapse against Bangladesh in the first Test.
In his post-match analysis on Jio Cinema, Chopra noted the similarities between Ashwin and Laxman, commending Ashwin’s calmness under pressure and his technique against deliveries aimed at his legs. "He allows the ball to come to him, especially when on the back foot. When it's on his legs, he often reminds me of VVS Laxman. But today, his driving, bending the knee, and hitting a six off the spinners really stood out. Jadeja was brilliant, but Ashwin deserves even more credit for this innings," Chopra remarked.
Chopra also highlighted Ashwin's lack of recent match practice, noting that he hadn’t played competitive cricket since India's Test series against England. In contrast, the rest of the squad had been actively involved in the T20 World Cup.
India’s batting line-up, including stars like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill, struggled early on against Bangladesh’s Hasan Mahmud and Nahid Rana, leaving India in a precarious position at 144/5. A brief partnership between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant provided some stability, but both were soon dismissed.
It was the crucial 195-run partnership between Ashwin and Jadeja that turned the game in India’s favour, lifting the home side to a much stronger position at 339/6 by the end of Day 1. Their stand not only stabilised India’s innings but also shifted the momentum firmly toward the hosts.