IND vs BAN, Chennai Test, Day 1: Visitors miss chance to dominate after local boy Ravichandran Ashwin's century

After winning the toss in Chennai’s hot and humid conditions with a mix of few clouds, the Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto invited the hosts India to bat in the first Test of the two-match series. Notably, Rohit Sharma’s men took the field in traditional format after a hiatus of six months and 12 days since they outplayed England in a five-match home series by 4-1.

On the other hand, the Bengal Tigers were coming off with a clean sweep victory by 2-0 against Pakistan in the latter’s backyard, just three weeks ago. The battle was supposed to be quite interesting as the ‘resurgent’ Bangladesh included a mix of youth and experience in their playing XI to take on the in-form Indian team.

Hasan Mahmud-led Bangla dominance in the first session

As the game began, young pacer Hasan Mahmud made no mistake in proving his skipper’s decision to bowl first a masterstroke. The 24-year-old gave the first blow to the hosts just in the sixth over; he tempted skipper and veteran opener, Rohit Sharma to play away from his body and the latter happened to play it in an angle and ended up getting caught in the second slip by his Bangladesh counterpart Shanto.

After the dismissal of skipper Sharma at the team’s score of 14 runs, the pair of Shubman Gill and another opener Yashasvi Jaiswal had added only 14 more runs when Mahmud came up with another strike to trouble the hosts. It was on the third ball of the eighth over when the 24-year-old trapped India’s potential ‘number 3’ Shubman Gill with a full-length delivery down the leg side. Gill attempted to play it for runs but unfortunately handed it to the wicketkeeper Litton Das, with a thick and loud edge.

Once again, just after the gap of an over, it was none other than Mahmud against the modern-day great, Virat Kohli. The bowler was changed, conditions were changed, venue was changed, but what remained constant was Indian Stalwart’s struggle with the balls outside the off stump. In a trap curated by young Hasan Mahmud, Kohli repeated it and ended his very short stint with 6-ball 6 runs after getting caught by Litton Das. In the first 10 overs of the first session, the WTC 2023 runners-up were left on the knees against a young pacer, having experience of only 3 Tests to his name.

Also Check: IND vs BAN 1st Test Day 1 Highlights: Unmissable video recap, turning points, match analysis, stats and more

Jaiswal-Rahul duo failed to utilize a steady partnership

However, the young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, alongside the ‘comeback’ guy, Rishabh Pant tried putting on an effort to provide stability after the Indian batting line-up’s top-order getting crashed. The duo survived Bangladesh's confident and attacking bowling attack till lunch, taking the team’s score to 88 runs for the loss of three wickets.

Things were looking in control before the second over started after lunch; it was when the ‘well-settled’ Rishabh Pant threw away his wicket to Hasan Mahmud in a soft dismissal; it was a ‘bit late’ attempt to go for a cut shot. For one more time, wicketkeeper Litton Das shared the credit with Mahmud to send another Indian batter back to the pavilion. India were now 96 for the loss of four wickets, with only top-order batter, Yashasvi Jaiswal surviving in the middle.

Later, Jaiswal stitched a partnership of 48 runs with KL Rahul for the fifth wicket to give Indian batting the courage to ‘fight back’ after early blows. But then came two quick blows for the hosts, when they lost Jaiswal and KL in quick succession to Nahid Rana and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, respectively at the team's score of 144 runs only [within a period of just 4 balls].  

India’s merciless ‘counter-attack’ ft. Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja

After India lost their sixth wicket at 144 runs, two of India’s greatest Test all-rounders, Ravindra Jadeja and the local boy, Ravichandran Ashwin took centerstage. The duo cautiously managed to survive till tea-time and went unbeaten, taking India to 176 runs for the loss of six wickets.

Just after the tea break, the veteran all-rounder Ashwin’s intent seemed to be very clear and aggressive which he displayed with two consecutive fours in the 52nd over off in-form pacer Hasan Mahmud. In the next over, Ashwin welcomed the ‘Bangladesh great’ Shakib Al Hassan with a sensational six in a ‘slog-sweep’ on the third ball of the over.

Furthermore, Ashwin completed his half-century with a single off Nahid Rana on the first ball of the 60th over. The 38-year-old enjoyed amazing batting company with his long-time spin partner in Tests, Ravindra Jadeja.

Later around the end of the day, the Ashwin-Jadeja duo turned more dangerous while treating the Bangladesh bowlers. The local boy smashed Mehidy Miraz Hasan for an amazing six to reach 88 off just 97 balls. After sending Mehidy’s delivery into the stands, Ashwin aggregated a four-off Nahid Rana in the next over, moving into his 90s.

Continuing their merciless attack on the visitors’ bowling attack, Ashwin completed his Test career’s sixth century with a single off Shakib Al Hassan in the 78th over [just three balls before the end of the day’s play]. 

At the time of stumps, Ashwin went unbeaten at a score of 102 runs off just 112 balls with 10 fours and two sixes, alongside his mate, Ravindra Jadeja who scored 86 runs off 117 balls, hitting the same number of fours and sixes his partner managed. 

Watch: IND vs BAN, Rishabh Pant gets into argument with Litton Das after getting hit in Chennai