The opening day of the first Test between India and Bangladesh at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai was a tale of two halves. After a shaky start that saw India reeling at 34/3, a resilient century from Ravichandran Ashwin and a crucial partnership with Ravindra Jadeja turned the tide in the hosts’ favor. The day began under overcast skies, a stark contrast to the blazing sunshine that had preceded it, and mirrored the fluctuating fortunes of the Indian team.
Yashasvi Jaiswal, facing a challenging build-up to the match, showcased his fighting spirit. He had endured a tough practice week, struggling against the pace bowlers. However, much like the weather, Jaiswal’s fortunes changed, and he displayed remarkable resilience.
Hasan Mahmud, the Bangladesh pace bowler, was the early tormentor, claiming three quick wickets in the morning session. He exploited the Indian top order’s weakness against the incoming delivery, dismissing Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill with deliveries that moved away off the seam. Virat Kohli, returning to Test cricket after a six-month break, looked in good touch initially but fell victim to a tempting ball outside off-stump, edging a catch to the wicketkeeper.
However, a 62-run partnership between Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant, promoted to counter Mahmud, helped steady the ship. Jaiswal, despite facing a testing period early on, displayed his range of strokes, punishing deliveries that were too full or too straight. Pant was equally impressive, but his innings ended prematurely when he was dismissed by Mahmud.
The turning point of the day came with the arrival of Ravichandran Ashwin. He batted with incredible freedom and aggression, reaching his sixth Test century off just 108 balls. His innings was a masterclass in strokeplay, with the veteran spinner utilizing the bounce and pace of Nahid Rana to his advantage. He cut, slashed, and ramped through the off-side with nonchalance.
At the other end, Ravindra Jadeja played the perfect foil to Ashwin, providing support in their unbroken 195-run stand. Together, they dominated the Bangladesh bowlers, particularly Shakib Al Hasan, who was introduced late in the innings. Their partnership effectively overshadowed the meek surrender of the Indian top order.
As the sun began to peek through the clouds, the Jadeja-Ashwin show further solidified the fact that spin remains a potent force, even in the absence of a four-pronged attack. Despite the cloudy conditions, which prompted the Indian management to opt for a three-man pace attack for the first time in a home Test since 2019, the spin duo asserted their dominance, putting India in a commanding position at the close of play. Their unwavering partnership set the stage for an exciting second day of the Test, promising a thrilling battle between bat and ball.
