In a revealing conversation, Indian cricket star Ravichandran Ashwin disclosed that Virat Kohli was taken aback by the low turnout at the MA Chidambaram Stadium during the first day of India’s Test match against Bangladesh. Despite starting with a sparsely populated stadium on Day 1, Chepauk saw a dramatic rise in spectators as the game progressed, with fans eventually filling the stands in large numbers to cheer for their team.
Ashwin shared this behind-the-scenes moment during an interview on his YouTube channel, where he inquired former cricketer and commentator Ashwath Bobo about the late surge in the crowd’s presence.
Why Was the Chennai Crowd Late?
Ashwin recalled the empty stands on the morning of Day 1, saying, “The ground was completely empty on the first day. I was wondering why the ground was so empty on Day 1. Virat kept telling me that no one was coming to watch the Test match. But from that moment, there was a huge crowd.”
Responding to Ashwin’s inquiry, Ashwath Bobo explained the reason behind the delayed turnout. He cited confusion among fans over whether to purchase season tickets (valid for all five days) or day-specific tickets. This ambiguity led to an initial hesitance in buying tickets early on, but as the match progressed, fans opted for day tickets, creating long queues at the stadium.
Throwback to When MS Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar Played in the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes Tournament
“Initially, when ticket sales used to happen, they used to call it a season ticket or a day ticket. A season ticket is when you get it punched on Day 1, and you can come back for five days with the same ticket. Many people were afraid that the match would go on till the 4th or 5th day. So everyone had an ambiguity to buy the season ticket. So when they came to buy the day ticket, the crowd was huge. The crowd was from the Pavilion to the Pattabiram Gate,” Ashwath elaborated.
Cheering for Local Hero
As the match progressed, the crowd’s enthusiasm was palpable. Fans rallied behind Ashwin, their local hero, as he delivered a stellar all-round performance. Ashwin not only scored a century but also took a six-wicket haul in the fourth innings, leading India to a commanding victory by 280 runs.
Ashwin fondly remembered the support, saying, “The crowd was so passionate about watching the match.”
The Pitch at Chepauk: A Bowler’s Delight
Apart from crowd support, Ashwin also praised the pitch at Chepauk, describing it as one of the best Test surfaces he had played on in India. He expressed his hope that Tamil Nadu’s domestic matches would also benefit from such high-quality wickets.
“Easily one of the best cricket pitches I have played in India for a while. Awesome pitch and I really hope Tamil Nadu play Ranji Trophy on such pitches. The way they have laid the pitch, they should take it to the next level. Outstanding Test match wicket,” Ashwin stated.
He recounted how the curator had assured him that the pitch would offer bounce on the first day, followed by an easier phase for batting, with more spin coming into play as the game advanced. The conditions played out as predicted, providing a balanced contest between bat and ball.
Kohli’s Surprising Shot Selection
In the same conversation, Ashwin also touched on Virat Kohli’s adaptability and the evolution of his shot-making. He highlighted Kohli’s reverse sweep in the Kanpur Test, a rare sight from the Indian captain, which reminded him of Kohli’s innovative strokeplay during the Adelaide Test in 2014, where he scored twin hundreds.
“The way Virat Kohli played the reverse sweep in the first innings and played the sweep in the second innings in the Kanpur Test, I was surprised. The last time Virat played these types of shots was in the Adelaide Test in 2014,” Ashwin remarked.
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