India’s Ravichandran Ashwin played a sensational innings, scoring a rapid century, as he teamed up with Ravindra Jadeja to mount a remarkable recovery after the top order faltered. This partnership helped the hosts reach 339 for six on the first day of the opening Test against Bangladesh.
The day started poorly for India, with Bangladesh seamer Hasan Mahmud delivering a devastating spell, claiming three wickets in the morning session. India found itself in a precarious position at just 34 for 3 within the first hour at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, leaving the home crowd anxious.
Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal contributed a solid 56 runs, but it was the remarkable 195-run unbroken partnership for the seventh wicket between Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja that truly revived India’s innings. Ashwin finished the day unbeaten on 102 from 112 balls, marking his sixth Test century, which featured 10 fours and two sixes. Jadeja, meanwhile, was batting strongly at 86, closing in on his fifth Test hundred.
Reflecting on the pitch conditions, Ashwin noted, “On a surface like this with a bit of spice, if you’re going after the ball, you might as well go after it really hard.” He praised the familiar Chennai surface, highlighting its bounce and carry, which allowed players to execute aggressive shots effectively.
“If you’re willing to just get in line and can give the ball a little bit of tonk, it really helps,” Ashwin remarked, emphasizing the importance of attacking the ball on the lively pitch.
Bangladesh entered the match with confidence after sweeping Pakistan 2-0 earlier this month and dominated the first two sessions after captain Najmul Hossain Shanto chose to field first. India’s home captain, Rohit Sharma, struggled early, scoring just six runs off 11 balls before a loud lbw appeal and eventually edging Hasan Mahmud to Shanto at second slip.
In Hasan’s next over, he struck again, dismissing Shubman Gill for a duck as Gill edged the ball down the leg side to the wicketkeeper. Virat Kohli also fell to a soft dismissal, driving away from his body and being caught behind for just six runs, further deepening India’s woes early in their innings.
Despite challenging conditions and losing partners, Yashasvi Jaiswal remained unflustered, showcasing his talent with beautiful drives and exquisite flicks. Rishabh Pant, playing his first Test since a serious car crash in December 2022, contributed 39 runs with aggressive cuts and pulls, applying pressure on the bowlers.
However, Hasan Mahmud halted the momentum by breaking the 62-run partnership shortly after lunch, dismissing Pant with a lazy waft to a delivery wide of off-stump, resulting in another soft dismissal for India. Nahid Rana then ended Jaiswal’s fluent innings, while spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz dismissed KL Rahul soon after.
This set the stage for Ashwin and Jadeja to launch a spectacular counterattack, reversing the tide in favor of the hosts.
