India’s first Test against Bangladesh at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai saw a remarkable turnaround on Day 1, thanks to the stellar performances of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. The duo’s unbeaten partnership propelled India to a commanding 339/6 at the stumps, recovering from a precarious position earlier in the day.
Early Setbacks
Winning the toss, Bangladesh opted to bowl first, a decision that initially paid off. Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill were dismissed cheaply by Hasan Mahmud, who was in fiery form. Rohit fell for 6, while Gill was dismissed for a duck, leaving India struggling at 29/3. Virat Kohli, too, couldn’t make a significant impact, falling for just 6 runs.
Middle-Order Struggles
The middle order attempted to stabilize the innings, with Yashasvi Jaiswal playing a patient knock of 56 runs. However, wickets continued to tumble as KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant were dismissed for 16 and 39, respectively. By tea, India was reeling at 176/6, with Bangladesh sensing an opportunity to bowl out the hosts cheaply.
Ashwin and Jadeja’s Heroics
The post-tea session saw a dramatic shift in momentum. The duo took charge, counter-attacking the Bangladeshi bowlers with a mix of aggression and resilience. Ashwin, showcasing his batting prowess, reached his sixth Test century, remaining unbeaten on 102. His innings was studded with 12 boundaries and a six, reflecting his ability to perform under pressure.
Jadeja, playing the perfect foil, anchored the innings with a composed 86 not out. His knock included nine boundaries and a six, and he effectively rotated the strike, ensuring the scoreboard kept ticking. The duo’s unbroken 195-run partnership for the seventh wicket frustrated the Bangladeshi bowlers, who struggled to contain the flow of runs.
Team India's dressing room honors Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja 🇮🇳🤩
A well-deserved welcome for both of them 👌#RavichandranAshwin #RavindraJadeja #INDvBAN #Tests #Sportskeeda pic.twitter.com/2mvQiG1ZrG
— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) September 19, 2024
Bangladesh’s Bowling Effort
Hasan Mahmud was the standout bowler for Bangladesh, finishing the day with impressive figures of 4/58. His early breakthroughs had put India on the back foot, but the lack of support from the other bowlers allowed Ashwin and Jadeja to stage a recovery. Nahid Rana and Mehidy Hasan Miraz picked up a wicket each, but their efforts were overshadowed by the Indian duo’s dominance.
India’s strong finish on Day 1 has put them in a commanding position. The onus will be on Ashwin and Jadeja to further consolidate India’s position on Day 2. With the pitch expected to deteriorate, their runs could prove crucial in setting a challenging target for Bangladesh.
Also Read: Indian Lifter Ajaya Babu Valluri Wins Gold at Commonwealth Championships
