Veteran India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin shared his "fan moment" on social media, posting a picture with none other than chess legend Viswanathan Anand during a flight journey.
Ashwin ended with match-winning bowling figures of 6/88, and with that performance he has also now equalled Shane Warne’s record of 37 five-wicket hauls, behind only Muttiah Muralitharan’s 67.
Ashwin along with former chess player Prachura PP and Venkat K Narayana (KVN) will own the American Gambits in the second edition of the Global Chess League, a joint venture between Tech Mahindra and FIDE, the sport's world governing body.
Ashwin, who debuted in November 2011, becomes the 14th Indian player to play 100 Test matches for India. The veteran off-spinner also becomes just the second bowler after Muttiah Muralitharan to achieve 500 wickets in less than 100 Test matches.
After a loss in the first two games of the league stage, Australia went on to win eight consecutive games to reach the finals against India, which they won by six wickets, thanks to Travis Head's masterclass inning of 137 runs.
Ashwin was ecstatic after completing his century on Monday and celebrated wildly in front of his home crowd that cheered every little milestone of his.
For England, Wicketkeeper-batsman Ben Foakes was the lone ranger who guarded the fort as he remained unbeaten at a personal score of 42.
Ashwin and Vihari scripted a gritty and partnership of 62 runs in 264 deliveries. While the all-rounder scored a fabulous 39 off 128 balls, Vihari made an equally-tiring 23 off 161 deliveries.
Ashwin felt that the authorities should have been proactive and been on guard from the onset and not waited for Siraj to bring it to attention.
In the first two Tests, Ravichandran Ashwin had dismissed Steve Smith twice to resist the Australia's premier batsman from wreaking havoc.
