After taking 6 wickets for India’s 144 at the start of the first Test against Bangladesh in Chennai, the Bangladesh team began to dream of bowling India out for less. However, the two Indian all-rounders Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja put that dream to dust. Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja rescued the team from batting disaster after losing six wickets. Their unbeaten stand of 195 took India to a strong position at the end of the first day.
At the start of the match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Thursday (September 19), the Bangladesh team won the toss and decided to field to take advantage of the Meghla Akash and the seamers’ supportive pitch. Within the first hour, Bangladesh pacer Hasan Mahmood took the wickets of Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli to put India in danger.
Then Yasswi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant put on a crucial 50-run stand to take the pressure off. However, Hasan Mahmood returned to the attack and dismissed Pant. Jaiswal, who batted patiently, picked up his fifty, but lost to young pacer Nahid Rana. In the next over, Lokesh Rahul got out and India was in more trouble.
In such a situation, the team’s spin duo Ashwin and Jadeja resisted with the bat. Ashwin batted aggressively from the start and scored his second Test century on his home ground with a spectacular shot. Jadeja, on the other hand, continued to score runs quickly and put pressure on the Bangladeshi bowlers.
After picking up 6 wickets in the first two sessions, the Bangladesh team did not find any success in the third session. They scored 163 runs in that session. At the end of the first day’s play, India are 339 for 6 and they are now leading the match.
Bangladesh’s over rate today was quite poor, but they will be hoping to pick up quick wickets in tomorrow’s morning session and try to get back into the match.
