India made a fantastic start in this year’s red-ball season, with a commanding win over Bangladesh in the first Test at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. India won the game by 280 runs in the first session on Day 4 and took a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
Veteran Ravichandran Ashwin starred in the match, with both bat and ball. He scored a century in the first innings and a six-wicket haul in the final innings. India entered Day 4 needing just six wickets for victory, but the initial hour proved challenging. Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto and all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan put up strong resistance initially, surviving the first hour without losing a wicket. Despite no wickets falling, pace bowlers Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah troubled the Bangladeshi batters rigorously. However, the duo of Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja broke through during the second hour, dismantling the Bangladeshi defense.
Ashwin, who claimed three wickets on Day 3, continued his impressive form by dismissing Shakib Al Hasan, followed by Jadeja taking Liton Das’ wicket. The 38-year-old Ashwin struck again in the 58th over, to complete his five-wicket haul with Jadeja taking the catch. This marked his 37th five-wicket haul, which saw him level with the late legend Shane Warne, behind only Muthiah Muralidaran’s record of 67.
Meanwhile, Shanto attempted to take control of the innings. The Bangladesh captain targeted Jadeja, only to edge a wide delivery to slip. The end was near for Bangladesh, as Ashwin completed his sixth wicket haul after dismissing Taskin Ahmed, leaving the tourists at 228/9 in 58 overs. Ashwin then missed an opportunity to claim a seventh wicket, which went unreviewed. Ultimately, Jadeja took the last wicket of Bangladesh, dismissing Hasan Mahmud, marking his third wicket.
India’s comprehensive victory highlighted their dominance and set the stage for the second Test in the series, which is scheduled to begin on September 27. After the win in the opening Test, the Rohit Sharma-led side confirmed that the same 16-man squad would be retained for the upcoming match in Kanpur. The players who did not participate in the first Test include Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Yash Dayal.
