The MA Chidambaram Stadium is R Ashwin’s spiritual, cricketing home. It’s here that he took his first steps towards international superstardom. It’s here that he spent his early years in the relative anonymity of local and first-class cricket. 

His organic ascension up the ladder has presented the off-spinner with more than one opportunity to express his gratitude for the role Chepauk has played in his extraordinary journey. He has seldom not seized that chance, so it came as no surprise when he delighted a thrilled audience with a majestic exhibition of his craft on the second day of the second Test against England on Sunday.