Fans Congratulating Mohammed Siraj For Ashwin’s Century Is What Makes Indian Cricket So Unique

Day three of the second Test between India and England has finally come to fruition for the hosting side at the back of a struggling start as Ravichandran Ashwin hit the fifth century of his international Test career with a boundary.

Joining Virat Kohli in the middle when India were 106/6, Ashwin not only managed to build a 96-run partnership with the Indian skipper and stood his ground even when his partner got dismissed off an LBW appeal thanks to a beauty by Moeen Ali.

Batting alongside the entire lower-middle order of the Indian lineup, Ashwin played a stormy innings regardless of whoever was there on the other side of the pitch. Shaking off the jitters thanks to some reliable batting by another Test veteran in Ishant Sharma, the Chennai-born made it into the 80’s.

However, things got tense for the 34-year old when Sharma’s wicket fell and in came the very last batsman of the team in Mohammed Siraj. A 26-year old pacer making his international Test debut on home ground and just half a series worth of experience under his belt.

Visibly nervous and always on the lookout for any sort of advice he could seek from Ashwin on the other end, Siraj was required to keep defending against some great spinners of international cricket in Jack Leach and Ali.

But looking at the way Siraj made one delivery after another lost all the momentum at his feet, fans became more and more invested in his innings. Every time he defended the ball, the Chepauk crowd would stand up and cheer him on. After facing 10 deliveries and having to take a surprising single to exchange strike, the huge burden on Siraj’s shoulders was finally off.

Ashwin rushed past his 90’s and achieved his century in 134 deliveries. Siraj’s reaction to his teammate’s success beautifully captured his feeling towards the team and how he loves to play for India.

And while the fans were head over heels for Ashwin and his well-deserved century, many even congratulated the inexperienced tailender for hanging on and sticking to the crease until his partner achieved his feat.

After 85.5 overs Ashwin’s masterful century led Team India’s second innings to a 286-run total before he was bowled out by Olly Stone. England now have a little more than two days’ time to attempt to chase the mammoth 481-run total in order to win the match and take a 2-0 series lead.

The Men in Blue, on the other hand, must all-out the entire English roster in order to win the match and tie the series.