It’s been a remarkable story for India on Day 1 of the opening Test against Bangladesh at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Thursday. Indian batters especially, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja played superb innings to mount a strong recovery for the hosts. Earlier, India reeled at 144/6, however, a record-unbeaten 195-run partnership between Ashwin and Jadeja helped India finish at 339/6 at stumps. Both all-rounders have set up a solid foundation for India heading into Day 2 of the Test match.
Ashwin played an outstanding knock of unbeaten 102 while Jadeja (86*) is just 14 runs away to reach a brilliant ton. Ashwin, who reached his 6th Test ton in style, became the first cricketer to have 20 50+ scores and 30+ five-wicket hauls in Test cricket. Indian fans expect both batters to continue with their momentum and take India to the 400-run mark.
The morning session was a forgettable one for India as they lost the top three batters within the opening hour of the day. Bangladesh pacer Hasan Mahmud proved to be a nightmare for the Indian batters, castling down the top order inside 10 overs. The right-arm pacer bowled at the right pace and length to trouble his opponents. Mahmud’s consistency helped him to get the big fish Rohit Sharma (6) in the 6th over. The Indian skipper edged one that was bowled in the off-stump line and Najmul Hossain completed a good low catch at second slip.
In his next over, Mahmud dismissed Shubman Gill, who had the skills and abilities to score big. Gill departed for a duck after kissing a ball that went down the leg side and settled into Litton Das’s cloves. The 24-year-old Mahmud then celebrated aggressively after dismissing India’s star batter Virat Kohli for just 6 runs.
However, Rishabh Pant played a counter-attacking innings to put the Bangladesh bowlers on the defensive side. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Pant stitched a crucial 62-run stand to get India out of trouble. But Mahmud returned to nip out Pant right after lunch. Pant (39) fell for the trap, Mahmud offered width outside off, and Pant found an edge to Das while attempting the cut shot.
Jaiswal, who showed great resilience right from the start reached a brilliant half-century. The left-handed opener has hit half-centuries in every Test match he has played. Jaiswal and KL Rahul put up a 48-run stand, hoping to take India to a big total. But Nahid Rana produced a massive wicket for the visitors by dismissing Jaiswal on 56. Rana bowled it just short on off and middle at a thunderous 148.6 kph. The ball just wobbled away and Jaiswal got the outside edge that went straight into the hands of Shadman Islam at first slip.
Bangladesh bowlers received good support from their fielders. Zakir Hasan took an excellent catch at short leg to get rid of Rahul (16). Bangladesh bowlers thought that they would bowl out India soon and their batters would score big to take a healthy lead. But Ashwin and Jadeja had other ideas. Both made lovely use of their feet against spinners to find the boundary ropes. Bangladesh would eye for a strong comeback on Day 2.
