India vs Bangladesh 1st Test: Ashwin makes light of pitch to keep holders on course with 280-run victory at Chepauk
Ravichandran Ashwin was pure magic with bat and ball as India registered a comprehensive 280-run victory in the first Test against Bangladesh at Chepauk, Chennai.
Ashwin All-Rounder Brilliance Shines
Ashwin was the center of attraction at the Chepauk, having scored a century in the first innings, apart from taking sensational six-wicket haul in the second innings to shut the Bangladeshi batting line-up. The 37-year-old spinner played a crucial role as India managed to retrieve their innings from an abysmal start, making it challenging for the visitors throughout the match.
Ashwin’s effort at the bat along with Ravindra Jadeja’s valuable 86-run knock helped India pose a competitive total after the top order underwent a collapse. In combination with the excellent bowling performance, Ashwin ensured that India had the win locked up on the final day of the Test.
A Rocky Start for India
Bangladesh’s bowlers quickly saw off some of India’s big guns to leave the home side reeling at 112/4 in the first innings. Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli just fell like ninepins, putting a nation expecting just a little easier victory in a spot of bother. As luck would have it, local boy Ashwin stepped up when it mattered the most, scoring a magnificent century while sharing some crucial runs with Ravindra Jadeja. Jadeja’s well-crafted 86 meant the difference between getting out of trouble and a foothold into the match for India.
The middle order, led by Ashwin, did add much-needed runs for India and ended up taking the first innings total to 376, giving the hosts a daunting position from where they started off on the backfoot.
Bangladesh’s woes with the bat
The visitors managed only 149 runs in the first innings. The tourists couldn’t make big partnerships and lost wickets in a smooth sequence as well. Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Ravindra Jadeja fully exploited the conditions but, actually, it was Ashwin who drew more attention, with three wickets in the first innings as well, putting on the show of India supremacy.
After having taken a lead of 227 runs, India easily dominated the match within the final hours of the second day.
Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant Extend India’s Lead
With the Indians batting in the second innings, they wanted to put their lead to better use. They did so in great style with Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant smiting the Bangladeshi bowlers all around the park, scoring scintillating centuries and putting their team in a position to declare their innings at 287/4 to hand Bangladesh an improbable target of 515 runs to win.
Gill was quick on the shots and scored at a brisk pace. Pant’s attacking batting put pressure on the Bangladeshi bowlers who were finding it difficult to control the flow of runs. The captain, feeling they are going to win then declared the innings, leaving the Bangladeshis with a mountainous task of chasing the runs.
Ashwin’s Six-Wicket Haul Seals Victory
Bangladesh’s batsmen were chasing a mammoth total of 515 runs against the quality bowling attack of India. Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto, with a spirited 82 runs was the only one who could go along with his partners for some time.
Ashwin was once again the star of the show, taking his second five wicket haul in the game too, and ended the match with figures of 6/68 in the second innings. His accurate bowling left no answers for Bangladesh’s tail-enders as they were finally bowled out for 235, thus handing India a victory by 280 runs.
Ashwin finally clinched the game with his second scalp, clean bowling Hasan Mahmud to bring an end to the match. The Indian team and their fans went onto a jubilant spree as he finished with both bat and ball by taking the Player of the Match award for himself. He not only re-established himself as India’s match-winner home, in particular, but also proved he was one of India’s greatest winners in that department.
Bangladesh Crumble Under Resistance
The Bangladesh side showed some resistance at the beginning of Day 4, especially through Shanto and Shakib Al Hasan. But that too couldn’t resist India’s constant pressure. Shanto, making a captain’s knock of 82, fell trying to up the run rate, top-edging an Ashwin delivery to Jasprit Bumrah in the outfield. Shakib made a useful 25 runs and was also a victim of spin wizard Ashwin.
Once these two mainstays were sent back, Bangladesh’s tail didn’t take too much longer. However the last known batsman to get out was Taskin Ahmed, when he attempted a big shot off Ashwin and could only ensure the hand-over to Mohammed Siraj’s hands at long-off. Bangladesh crept from 199/4 to 235 all out, with the writing quite literally on the wall.
India Dominance at Chepauk
Chepauk stadium continues to remain a fortress for India, and the duo of Ashwin and Jadeja proved too hot to handle for the opposition for the second successive time. India completed a comprehensive win by 280 runs, further proving their dominance again in home conditions; the spinners, more particularly Ashwin, making full use of the turning track.
Today, with this win, India has taken the two-match Test series in their favor 1-0, and with such a performance, they would look at sealing it in the second Test match.
Conclusion
Ravichandran Ashwin’s all-round brilliance complemented some decent batting from Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, and Ravindra Jadeja as India won the first Test at Chepauk vs Bangladesh. They had their moments, but Bangladesh had no answers to India’s superior skill and experience on a day when Chepauk truly came alive. The second Test promises to be another interesting contest with Bangladesh looking to bounce back and India looking to close the series.
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