(Clockwise) Ravichandran Ashwin, Rishabh Pant and Rohit Sharma during the first Test between India and Bangladesh in Chennai. (AP/PTI)
India did a demolition job on Bangladesh in the first Test, closing the game on Day 4 with a 280-run win in Chennai. Chasing 515, having lost four wickets until Saturday, Bangladesh weren’t able to last even one full session as the Indian bowlers, inspired by Ravichandran Ashwin capped off a comprehensive way.
India now lead 1-0 in the two-match series with the second game scheduled to be played starting September 27, Friday in Kanpur. Here are the major talking points from the game:
Pant’s emotional comeback
For Rishabh Pant, the Test match marked his comeback to the format for the first time since December 2022. The keeper-batter wouldn’t disappoint. With India having lost three wickets in their second innings on Day 2, Pant would combine alongside Shubman Gill to solidify India’s stranglehold over the game and score a century.
“100 was special because I love playing in Chennai. After injury I wanted to play all three formats and this was my first (Test)match after coming back. Loving it every day. It was emotional (celebration), I wanted to score each and every match which didn’t I couldn’t do, but coming back to Test cricket, which is where I belong the most… I just enjoyed batting and got a little bit emotional,” Pant said after the match.
Ashwin’s nostalgia about Chepauk
Century in the first innings. Six wickets in the second. Ravichandran Ashwin’s homecoming at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai couldn’t have been more perfect. It saw him score his sixth Test hundred and level with Shane Warne for second-most Test 5-fers (37). It was an all-round performance that deserved a player of the match award.
Speaking to the host broadcasters afterwards, Ashwin expanded on what it meant for him to have had this performance at his home venue.
“Once upon a time this ground was concrete blocks and my first experience was watching from Mac B stand, watching Sachin Tendulkar. One day I wanted to be on this particular ground and play. My first IPL contract was given here, some energy pulls me into this ground, I don’t know how much longer but I love coming back here,” Ashwin told JioCinema.
Rohit’s high praise for Ashwin
Speaking after India’s win, skipper Rohit Sharma reserved his praise for the player of the match. “Every time we look up to him, he’s always there for us whether with the bat or ball. I don’t know if I speak here it’ll be enough to cover what he does for the team,” Rohit said.
Talking about his batting prowess, Rohit added that it was Ashwin’s experience while batting up the order during the Tamil Nadu Premier League that helped him get to his fastest Test hundred. “We watched him bat up the order and that’s what helped him as well to bat the way he did.”
Shanto on positives for Bangladesh
Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto found the silver lining at the end of a big defeat – biggest by the margin of runs against India. “The positive thing is the way Hasan, Taskin and Rana bowled in the first 2-3 hours, really impressive,” Shanto said.
The skipper himself, was the lone man standing with the bat for Bangladesh in the second innings as he scored an impressive 82 off 127 deliveries with wickets falling at regular intervals at the other end.
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