5 Talking Points from India's victory over West Indies in the 1st Test

# 3 – Record breaker Ashwin pips record breaker Kohli to Man of the Match award

There remains only one all-rounder who has done Ashwin’s feat more times than him – Ian Botham

Ravichandran Ashwin has had a surprisingly disappointing T20 season so far in 2016, but he was back to his supreme best on a return to the Test arena. His century in the batting innings took India’s score to beyond respectable and towards the imposing total which allowed for an innings victory. Before his partnership with Kohli, there was a chance that they would be dismissed on the first day under 300.

He went wicketless in the first innings, and also till lunch on the fourth day, but found the groove as play resumed after the 45-minute break, snaring five wickets in the second session, within a period of 51 balls. He finished off the match early in the third session by taking two wickets in the same over. His double of 7 wickets and a century in the same Test puts him in a rare list in cricket’s hall of fame.

Ashwin was named Man of the Match for his feat. Incidentally, the last Indian spinner before Ashwin to have won a Man of the Match award outside Asia was Anil Kumble in 2007 vs England at The Oval. Ashwin also became the first indian to have done the double of a century and 5 wicket haul in a match twice, only Ian Botham has done this feat more times.

One hopes there are bigger contests to come in this series than the Kohli vs Ashwin contest for the Man of the Match awards.