Ravichandran Ashwin is one of the greatest spinners to have ever graced the game, and has also starred with the bat, making five Test centuries. His numbers in Test cricket, in particular, are outrageous. The off-break bowler has arguably been the biggest matchwinner for India in the subcontinent.
Ravichandran Ashwin has played 92 Test matches for India and has picked 474 wickets at an average of 23.93. He has claimed 32 five-wicket hauls in the longer format. In ODIs, he has 151 wickets in 113 games while in T20 internationals he has taken 72 wickets in 65 matches.
It's not his bowling only that he has made an impact with. Ravichandran Ashwin is capable with the bat and has shown his value time and again. It is his all-round ability that makes him the biggest asset in spin-friendly conditions.
Coming to Ashwin's batting, he has registered five centuries in international cricket. Here we will take a detailed look at how and when those Ravichandran Ashwin centuries came.
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How many centuries has Ravichandran Ashwin scored in Tests?
Ravichandran Ashwin has scored five centuries in Tests. All of his international hundreds have come in the longer format of the game. On the back of his batting performance, Ashwin even claimed the number 1 ICC ranking for Test all-rounders a few times.
Ashwin's maiden Test century came in 2011 when India hosted West Indies at Wankhede stadium in Mumbai. The hosts had secured the series with a 2-0 lead and were looking for a clean sweep. Batting first, West Indies piled on 590 runs on the board with a hundred from Darren Bravo and five other batters scoring fifties.
India needed to give a strong response and they had several players contribute. Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid and Virat Kohli scored fifties while Sachin Tendulkar missed his century by six runs. When Ashwin walked in, India were still a long way behind at 331/6 and they needed to get as close to the West Indies total as they could.
Ashwin added 97 runs with Virat Kohli, scoring 58 in the partnership. He then batted brilliantly with the tail and scored 103 to take India closer. The Test match ended in an enthralling draw as India fell just one short of the target on the fifth day.
Ravi Ashwin's second Test century came at Eden Gardens in the first Test of Sachin Tendulkar's farewell series in 2013. Bowling first, India had bundled out West Indies for 234 in the first innings. The hosts were in trouble, having lost six wickets for 156.
Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin then joined hands to dig India out of the hole. The pair added a humongous partnership of 280 runs for the seventh wicket. Sharma scored 177 while Ashwin made 124. In the end, India won the match by an innings and 51 runs.
Most of Ravichandran Ashwin centuries have come in crisis situations, even the first two. The third century wasn't so much in a tough situation but it was a match-winning one nonetheless. India were on the tour of West Indies and Virat Kohli was outstanding in the first Test. Batting first, India were four down for 236 as Ashwin came in. The duo added a 168-run stand for the fifth wicket, with Kohli completing his double century. Ashwin went on to score 113 as the visitors piled on 568 runs at North Sound. The visiting bowling attack was too strong for the hosts as India clinched the Test by an innings and 92 runs.
The third Test of that series at Gros Islet saw Ravi Ashwin produce another rescue act for Team India. Batting first, India had lost half the side for just 126 runs. Ashwin had the help of Wriddhiman Saha, who also scored a century to help India recover to 353. The duo added 213 runs for the sixth wicket. Ashwin grinded hard in difficult conditions and played 297 balls, scoring a fighting 118. Ashwin earned the player of the match award as India went on to win by 237 runs.
Ravi Ashwin's fifth and most recent Test century came in the second Test of the home series against England in 2021. India had lost the opening Test and needed to make a comeback at the Chepauk in Chennai. Rohit Sharma scored a superb 161 in the first innings on a difficult pitch before Ashwin claimed a five-for as India took a lead of 195 runs.
India were ahead but they had lost six wickets for 106 in the second innings. Ashwin put on a 96-run stand for the seventh wicket with Virat Kohli. He went on to score 106 off 148 to help India set a target of 482. The hosts won the match by 317 runs and Ashwin claimed yet another player of the match award.
Full list of Ravichandran Ashwin centuries in international cricket
| Date | Score | Opponent | Venue |
| 22 Nov 2011 | 103 (118) | Test vs West Indies | Wankhede, Mumbai |
| 06 Nov 2013 | 124 (210) | Test vs West Indies | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| 21 Jul 2016 | 113 (253) | Test vs West Indies | Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound |
| 09 Aug 2016 | 118 (297) | Test vs West Indies | Darren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet |
| 13 Feb 2021 | 106 (148) | Test vs England | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai |
