Cricket

India's Under-19 cricket team displayed resilience and determination to secure a thrilling two-wicket victory over their Australian counterparts in the first Youth Test match at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.Chasing a challenging target of 212 on a turning pitch, India faced early setbacks as off-spinner Thomas Brown dismissed Vaibhav Suryavanshi and pacer Addison Sheriff removed Vihaan Malhotra, leaving the hosts struggling at 25 for two.However, Nitya Pandya (51) and K.P. Karthikeya (35) steadied the innings with a 71-run partnership for the third wicket. Karthikeya's dismissal to leg-spinner Vishwa Ramkumar brought about a collapse, with Nitya and skipper Soham Patwardhan falling in quick succession.With India reeling at 113 for five, Abhigyan Kundu and Nikhil Kumar (55 not out) forged a crucial 49-run stand for the sixth wicket. Aidan O'Connor dismissed Kundu, but Kumar and Enaan (12) kept the scoreboard ticking.Vishwa Ramkumar's dismissal of Enaan left India on the brink of defeat, but Kumar and N. Samarth (43) combined for a match-winning 43-run eighth-wicket partnership. Kumar remained unbeaten on 55, guiding India to victory with just 61.1 overs played.Earlier, Soham Patwardhan's three wickets had helped India restrict Australia to 214 in their second innings. Mohamed Enaan's six-wicket haul in the first innings had given India a slender 24-run lead.

R. Ashwin, the veteran Indian all-rounder, has been enjoying a remarkable run at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Last month, he led the Dindigul Dragons to their maiden TNPL title with crucial knocks. On Thursday, he added another feather to his cap by scoring his sixth Test century, his second in as many Tests at this iconic venue.Ashwin's love for the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium is evident in his words. "This is a ground I completely love to play cricket in. It's given me a lot of wonderful memories," he said after the day's play.The 38-year-old attributed his success in the Test match to the work he had put in during the TNPL. "It helps that I'm coming off a T20 tournament where I worked quite a bit on batting and playing shots," he explained.Ashwin also highlighted the importance of playing aggressively on a surface that offers assistance to the bowlers. "On a surface like this with a bit of spice, if you're going after the ball, you might as well go after it hard like Rishabh (Pant) does," he said.Ashwin's century was a testament to his resilience and adaptability. He came to the crease with India in a spot of bother at 86/3. However, he played with patience and determination, gradually building his innings. He reached his century with a boundary off Mehidy Hasan Miraz, sparking jubilation among the home crowd.Ashwin's knock was not just about runs; it was also about the time he spent at the crease. He faced 233 deliveries and hit 12 fours and a six, anchoring India's innings and giving them a solid platform to build on.The century was also a significant milestone for Ashwin, who became only the second Indian after Kapil Dev to score six Test centuries and take 300 Test wickets. It is a testament to his all-round abilities and his status as one of the greatest cricketers of his generation.