Birthday Special: Top five performances by Ravichandran Ashwin

Darren Sammy (L) looks on as Ashwin (R) celebrates taking the wicket of Kieran Powell during fifth day of the third Test between India and the West Indies at The Wankhede stadium in Mumbai on November 26, 2011. (Getty Images)

3. 9/190 and 103 vs. West Indies (Third Test, Mumbai, November 2011)

By far one of Ashwin’s best Test performances to date as this stellar show with both bat and ball enabled his side to draw the third and final Test of a three-match series against the West Indies.

Playing in only his third game after a sensational debut at Delhi against the same opposition, the Chennai lad went for runs aplenty, but managed to make five crucial breakthroughs. He later stated that he felt cheated by the lack of bounce on offer at the Wankhede pitch, and had to strive hard for his wickets. The Caribbean batsmen made merry on a docile pitch, putting up a mammoth total before letting India have a turn.

The hosts came out firing, as three of the top-order got half-centuries, but Ravi Rampaul dashed their hopes of a first-innings lead with a fiery three-wicket burst, while his other colleagues took three more to cut India down to size, with 60 more needed to avoid a follow-on and only the bowlers to come.

However, Ashwin, who had opened the innings at the U-19 level, defied them with a superlative knock, as he patiently whittled down the Windies’ lead. At times, his shots resembled a typical tail-enders, but those were rapidly followed by a couple of murderous sixes against leg spinner Devendra Bishoo.

The late cuts and paddles were of a quality that would have made Sachin Tendulkar proud. He duly scored his maiden Test century, capping off an eventful month in which he won the Man of the Match award on debut and got married.