IND vs BAN: 1st Test, Day 1 Review – Ashwin, Jadeja save the day for India
The first day of the 2024 India vs Bangladesh Test in Chennai delivered a dramatic narrative, full of twists and turns. Bangladesh made a bold start after electing to bowl under overcast conditions. Their fast bowler Hasan Mahmud was the star in the morning session, dismantling India’s top order by removing Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli cheaply, leaving India struggling at 34/3.
India’s response came through a promising 62-run stand between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant. Pant played fluently, hitting 39 off 52 balls, but a lapse in concentration saw him dismissed shortly after lunch. Hasan Mahmud was the main architect of India’s troubles, bagging four wickets and keeping the pressure on. When KL Rahul fell at 144/6, Bangladesh appeared to be on the verge of a dominant day.
However, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja led a remarkable recovery. Ashwin, playing in front of his home crowd, counter-attacked with flair and went on to score a brilliant hundred, his second at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Jadeja offered solid support, and together they added an unbeaten 195 runs for the seventh wicket, taking India to a strong 339/6 by stumps. Ashwin ended the day with 102*, while Jadeja was not out on 86, frustrating Bangladesh’s hopes of wrapping up the innings quickly.
The surface offered plenty of bounce and swing early on but gradually eased as the day progressed. Day two promises to be just as exciting, with India looking to capitalize on the momentum set by their all-rounders.
