Veteran all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin displayed a phenomenal bowling display, three days after scoring a century, in the first India vs Bangladesh Test of the 2024 series at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday.

Ashwin, who plays for the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League, ended the innings with figures of 6/88. His match figures were 6/117 in 34 overs.

With the bowling display, the 38-year-old equalled Shane Warne’s record of 37 five-wicket hauls in Test cricket, second only to Muttiah Muralitharan who has 67.

Alongside this, India’s ace spinner surpassed 750 wickets across all formats, going past the legendary West Indian pacer Courtney Walsh. Ashwin also has the most wickets in the fourth innings by an Indian bowler, surpassing Anil Kumble's 94 to reach 99.

At 38 years and five days, Ashwin is now the oldest Indian to take a five-wicket haul, surpassing the 69-year-old record of Vinoo Mankad, who picked up a fifer in 1955 at the age of 37 years and 306 days.

Chennai is Ashwin’s home turf and one of his favourite hunting grounds. This match was the second consecutive Test at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium where he achieved both a century and a five-fer. The last one was against England in 2021.

In the first innings, the all-rounder had rescued the India cricket team from a tight position. India were reeling at 144/6 when Ashwin joined hands with Ravindra Jadeja to build a partnership of 199 runs for the seventh wicket. He ended with 113 off 133, which included 11 boundaries and two maximums.

“Every time I play in Chennai, it's an amazing feeling. I've watched a lot of Tests and international cricket in those stands, and to do it in front of those renovated stands is great,” Ashwin said in the post-match presentation.

Interestingly, out of Ashwin’s six Test hundreds, he has picked a five-wicket haul in four of them. He now sits behind England legend Ian Botham when it comes to scoring a century and taking a five-wicket haul in the same Test. The Englishman did it five times, while Ashwin is at four.

R Ashwin was handed the Player of the Match trophy for his fantastic all-round display, but for the veteran, bowling comes first.

“(The century) was a special innings, didn't sink in till day 2. But I make a living by bowling, so bowling comes first,” Ashwin said. “I think like a bowler naturally but have focused my thoughts on batting. The compartmentalisation is a work in progress.”

In the first innings, thanks to the Ashwin-Jadeja partnership, India put 376 runs on the board. When Bangladesh came on to bat, they were all out for a mere 149 with Jasprit Bumrah rising to the occasion with a four-wicket haul.

India then declared at 287/4 in their second innings courtesy of centuries from Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant.

Set a target of 515, Bangladesh were dismissed for 234, handing the Indian cricket team a 280-run win. Jadeja took 3/58.

The second and final India vs Bangladesh Test will take place in Kanpur from September 27 onwards. India have retained the same squad.