1st Test, Day 1: Ravichandran Ashwin-Ravindra Jadeja Tango Saves India After Hasan Mahmud’s Early Strikes

Seasoned off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin sparkled on dwelling turf along with his sixth Test hundred as he mixed with Ravindra Jadeja to steer India out of hassle and put up a formidable 339 for six on day one of many first Test in opposition to Bangladesh right here on Thursday. Ashwin (102 batting) and Jadeja (86 batting) added 195 runs (174 minutes, 225 balls) for a riveting unbroken seventh wicket stand after younger pacer Hasan Mahmud (4/58) lowered India to 144 for six, regardless of Yashasvi Jaiswal making a stable 56.

The ebb and stream of the day’s proceedings was fairly exceptional and principally revolved round Ashwin, Jadeja and Mahmud, who made his Test debut in March this yr and was simply three video games previous within the format earlier than this match.

In a shocking first spell of 5-2-6-3, the 24-year-old Mahmud accounted for the cream of Indian top-order — Rohit Sharma (6), Shubman Gill (0) and Virat Kohli (6) — earlier than snapping Rishabh Pant‘s return to Test cricket (39 off 52 balls) within the preliminary moments of the second session.

KL Rahul, one other Indian batter who’s re-entering the Indian Test institution, fell for 16 to off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz as fortune’s pendulum stayed firmly in Bangladesh’s quarter.

But then got here the 2 gladiators who know Chepauk just like the again of their hand — Ashwin by delivery and Jadeja by way of his lengthy affiliation with the Chennai Super Kings.

One extra wicket at that stage would have prolonged the dominance of Bangladesh, however such ideas hardly disturbed Ashwin and Jadeja.

Ashwin went off the blocks with a flurry of boundaries, a agency validation of his oh-so-smooth timing born out of fluent hand motion by way of pictures and exact footwork.

There was this ramp shot off Mahmud, who tried to rattle Ashwin with a short-pitched supply that climbed onto his physique.

But the veteran participant arched himself again ever so barely to achieve area to execute the ramp over the slip — fabulous in conceptualisation and execution.

At instances, he scored at a strike charge in extra of 100 and was not hesitant to journey the extra uncultured manner. A slog sweep that went for six over mid-wicket off left-arm spinner Shakib Al-Hasan testified that.

Jadeja was a tad completely different in his method. Sensing that Ashwin was in good contact, the left-hander had the straightforward job of preserving his finish going and he did that with minimal fuss.

A previous grasp in working from behind the large shadows of superstars, Jadeja seemed extraordinarily comfy doing that after extra, offering the reassurance Ashwin wanted.

But there have been moments, the showman in Jadeja got here forth and Shakib was the aggrieved social gathering, getting hammered for 3 fours.

Bangladesh’s star of the day Mahmud, too was not spared as Jadeja, who raised his fifty off 73 balls, performed a drag-pull off the pacer to ship him for a six.

Other instances, he wing-heeled throughout the pitch for these ones and twos to maintain the Bangladesh bowlers annoyed.

The spectators ultimately witnessed the second that they’d been ready for when Ashwin reached the hundred with a single off Shakib, they usually welcomed it with applause, cheers and loud bugling.

It was his second consecutive hundred at his dwelling floor after going previous the three-figure mark right here in opposition to England in 2021. And it couldn’t have come at a greater time as effectively.

But earlier than the epic fightback, the Indian innings resembled a crumbling rampart. It’s not usually {that a} crew profitable the toss would elect to bowl first right here as that interprets right into a fourth-innings chase.

But Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto bit the bullet whereas going in opposition to the development, and was rewarded for it too.

Rohit, who was saved by DRS when he was on 1, was the primary to depart.

The Indian skipper had little selection aside from enjoying a wobble seam supply that got here at him on a good angle as he edged to Shanto at second slip.

Gill lasted simply eight balls however he would rely himself unfortunate, feathering Mahumd’s down the leg aspect supply to stumper Litton Das.

Kohli walked into the Chepauk amid loud cheers and seemed assured. But an previous failing resurfaced to hang-out him.

Mahmud pitched one simply in need of the size outdoors the off-stump, and the size was not appropriate for a drive.

But the star batter selected to play an expansive one with the ball nestling in Litton’s gloves after taking a wholesome edge off his bat.

Jaiswal and Pant added 62 runs for the fourth wicket to quickly test the free fall earlier than each perished in shut succession within the center session.

Bangladesh might need thought the hassle was ok to maintain the house aspect flat on the ropes, however Ashwin and Jadeja made them wiser as to why it’s so powerful to maintain India on the back-foot at dwelling for lengthy.

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