Ajith Ram hits unbeaten 115 and takes seven as Tamil Nadu rout Chandigarh

On Thursday in Chandigarh, S. Ajith Ram scored an unbeaten 115 and captured seven wickets in the second innings in a Ranji Trophy Elite Group D match. The left-arm spinner described the outing as a dream game after a prolonged recovery from serious knee injuries.

Across nine decades of Tamil Nadu cricket only three players had previously combined a century and a five-wicket innings in the same First Class match; Ajith became the fourth, joining A.G. Ram Singh, B.C. Alva and S. Vasudevan. The 115 was his maiden first-class century.

Ajith struck an unbeaten 115 before returning with the ball to claim seven wickets in the second innings, and Tamil Nadu defeated Chandigarh by an innings and 260 runs. His batting set the platform and his bowling completed the comprehensive victory.

The achievement carried extra weight because Ajith had suffered complete tears of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus in his right knee. “Honestly, it was a dream game. I never expected a performance like this. A year ago, my injury was so serious that I wasn’t even sure whether I would ever play cricket again,” Ajith told The Hindu. “I am thankful to God for giving me the strength to return. Everything just happened in a flow, and I was enjoying myself,” he added.

Reflecting on his innings, Ajith said: “Even when I was in the 90s, I wasn’t thinking about the hundred. I wasn’t looking at the scoreboard. It was a new experience for me. I just went with the flow,” he said. He also explained his motivation with the bat: “Teams that have won the Ranji Trophy have always had contributions from their lower-order. I wanted to improve my batting and contribute to Tamil Nadu’s success,”

For someone who once wondered whether he would play again, a place alongside three stalwarts is some way to announce a return.