1st Test: Ashwin-Jadeja stand rescues India after Bangladesh strike early
What's the story
India touched the 300-run mark after Bangladesh opted to field on Day 1 of the 1st Test at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. Bangladesh started well by removing three Indian batters inside 10 overs, but a rescuing knock from Yashasvi Jaiswal evaded a batting collapse. Later, a 195*-run stand between Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja put India on top. They were 339/6 at stumps.
Early wickets
Hasan Mahmud stuns India early on
Taskin Ahmed started the proceedings for Bangladesh, with Hasan Mahmud joining him from the other end. While Rohit Sharma and Jaiswal negotiated the Bangladesh seamers under cloudy conditions, Mahmud drew first blood by removing Rohit in the sixth over. The right-armer dismissed Shubman Gill for an eight-ball duck soon after. Mahmud then sent back Virat Kohli, reducing to India to 34/3 inside 10 overs.
Jaiswal
Jaiswal's rescuing knock on Day 1
Jaiswal propelled India past 90 along with Rishabh Pant, who departed before the 100-run mark. The former then had a brief parntership with KL Rahul, having reached his fifty off 95 balls. Jaiswal fell to Nahid Rana for 56(118), having scored 9 boundaries. The left-handed batter has raced to 1,084 runs in just 10 Tests at an incredible average of 67.75.
Ashwin
A counter-attacking ton from Ashwin
Jaiswal and Rahul propelled took India past 140 before they lost two more wickets (144/6). Ashwin and Jadeja attacked the Bangladesh bowlers in tandem thereafter. The former smashed a counter-attacking 58-ball half-century. The duo's dominance was visible the final session as Bangladesh faced the heat. Ashwin remained the aggressor, completing his century toward the day's end. His ton came off just 108 balls.
Ashwin
Two Test tons in Chennai
Ashwin has six centuries in Test cricket. The Indian all-rounder has raced to two Test centuries at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, his home ground. Notably, Ashwin has 100+ scores in his last two innings at this venue. The off-spinner also slammed a match-winning ton against England in the 2021 Test match. Overall, this was Ashwin's 6th century in Test cricket.
Information
Multiple fifers and hundreds at a venue in Tests
As per Cricbuzz, Ashwin has become the fifth player with multiple fifers and hundreds at a venue in Test cricket. Garfield Sobers, Kapil Dev, Chris Cairns, and Ian Botham are the only other players with this record.
Partnership
A formidable 195*-run stand
As mentioned, Ashwin and Jadeja lifted India up from 144/6. They added a century-plus stand to get the hosts to 329/6. Ashwin was in attacking mode early on, while Jadeja joined him toward the day's end. The duo have added a telling 195*-run stand for the seventh wicket. Both Ashwin (102*) and Jadeja (86*) returned unbeaten at stumps.
Bowlers
What about the bowlers?
Hasan Mahmud was the pick of Bangladesh's bowlers on Day 1. He picked up four wickets for 58 runs in 18 overs, including four maidens. Nahid Rana and Mehidy Hasan Miraz took a wicket apiece. Ace spinner Shakib Al Hasan leaked as many as 50 runs in just eight overs. Miraz bowled the most number of overs (21).