Hasan Mahmud led Bangladesh’s impressive bowling performance in favorable conditions, consistently dismantling India’s batting lineup during the first two sessions of the opening Test in Chennai. Despite Yashasvi Jaiswal’s solid knock of 56 and key partnerships with Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul, Bangladesh kept the pressure on, leaving India struggling at 176/6 by Tea on Day 1.
The bowlers maintained tight lines, conceding only 88 runs in each session, though their over rate lagged with just 23 overs in the first session and 25 in the second.
India had begun to recover towards the end of the first session, but the pressure was back on after Lunch when Mahmud claimed his fourth wicket, dismissing Pant for 39. Pant had just hit a boundary but under-edged the next delivery, ending a promising 62-run fourth-wicket stand. Jaiswal, who played a crisp boundary to push India past 100, was also beaten outside off multiple times by Mahmud.
KL Rahul showed flashes of form, driving Nahid Rana for a classy four, but the bowlers continued to apply pressure, taking advantage of errors to pick up extras.
Taskin Ahmed found some assistance from the pitch, beating Jaiswal’s edge more than once, though the left-hander still punished loose deliveries, hitting a cover drive off Taskin to bring up his eighth fifty. Rahul played cautiously at the other end, building a steady partnership with Jaiswal. But the stand, just shy of fifty, ended when Jaiswal edged a short delivery from Rana to slip. Rahul soon followed, as Zakir Hasan took a sharp catch off Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s bowling.
Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja added some valuable runs with boundaries that took India past 150, though Mahmud nearly dismissed Ashwin just before Tea, only for the ball to escape through the vacant third-slip area for a four. Ashwin and Jadeja had built a 32-run partnership by the break.
Earlier in the day, after Bangladesh opted to bowl, Taskin Ahmed created early pressure by repeatedly beating Jaiswal’s outside edge and forcing Rohit Sharma into a tight contest. Rohit barely survived a review against Mahmud after being struck on the pad, saved by an umpire’s call. On a pitch that had enough moisture to aid the seamers, both Rohit and Jaiswal managed occasional boundaries to ease the pressure.
However, Mahmud soon had Rohit caught at second slip, and India slumped to 34/3 as Shubman Gill fell for an 8-ball duck, caught down the leg side, while Virat Kohli edged one to the slips—both wickets claimed by Mahmud.
Nahid Rana, introduced as the first change, posed fresh challenges with his pace and bounce. Rishabh Pant, returning to Test cricket after nearly two years, found his rhythm, hitting a boundary over backward point. Despite Mahmud’s continued pressure, Jaiswal capitalized on a loose delivery to bring up India’s 50. Pant found Rana’s pace to his liking, scoring a few boundaries and building a strong stand with Jaiswal.
However, Pant had some nervous moments, narrowly avoiding dismissal as he hit a short ball from Taskin just short of the fielder, and edged another one just shy of first slip, where Shadman Islam reacted late, sending the ball to the boundary to bring up a half-century stand.
Regular strikes keep India in check
Hasan Mahmud’s Leading Role in Bangladesh’s Bowling Performance
Hasan Mahmud spearheaded Bangladesh’s fine bowling performance in helpful conditions, consistently chipping away at India’s batting lineup during the first two sessions of the opening Test in Chennai.
Despite Yashasvi Jaiswal’s crucial partnerships with Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul, Bangladesh kept the pressure on, leaving India at 176/6 by Tea on Day 1. The bowlers maintained tight control, conceding only 88 runs in each session, though their over rates were somewhat slow, with only 23 overs bowled in the first session and 25 in the second.
Mahmud Strikes Again After Lunch
India had a good recovery in the second half of the first session but suffered another blow soon after Lunch. Mahmud claimed his fourth wicket, dismissing Pant for 39. After hitting a boundary with a cut shot, Pant attempted a similar stroke but under-edged it, bringing an end to a valuable 62-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
Jaiswal briefly counterattacked, walking down the track to Mahmud and hitting a boundary to push India past 100, though he was beaten outside off twice in the same over. KL Rahul also struck his first boundary with an elegant on-drive off Nahid Rana, and there were a few extra runs added due to Bangladesh’s errors.
Taskin Ahmed and Nahid Rana Continue to Challenge India
The pitch continued to offer assistance to the pacers, with Taskin Ahmed finding Jaiswal’s outside edge multiple times. Nevertheless, Jaiswal seized his scoring chances, hitting a cover drive for four off Taskin en route to his eighth fifty-plus score.
Meanwhile, Rahul batted cautiously, choosing his shots wisely, and contributed to a steady partnership with Jaiswal. However, their stand ended just two runs shy of fifty when Jaiswal edged a short-length delivery from Rana to first slip. Rahul soon followed, with Zakir Hasan taking a good catch at short leg off Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s bowling.
Ashwin and Jadeja’s Late Resistance
Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja struck a few boundaries to push India past 150. Mahmud nearly claimed Ashwin’s wicket in the final over before Tea, but the ball found its way through the vacant third slip region for a four. Ashwin and Jadeja managed to extend their partnership to 32 runs before the break.
Bangladesh’s Early Strikes in the First Session
Earlier, after Bangladesh elected to bowl, Taskin Ahmed immediately troubled Jaiswal, beating his outside edge multiple times. Taskin also managed to get one delivery to nip back into Rohit Sharma, who narrowly survived a review after being struck on the pad by Mahmud, saved by the umpire’s call.
With moisture in the pitch assisting the seamers, both Rohit and Jaiswal were tested but managed to relieve some pressure with a few boundaries. The partnership ended when Mahmud had Rohit edging one to second slip. India quickly found themselves in deeper trouble, reduced to 34/3 as Shubman Gill fell for an 8-ball duck and Virat Kohli was caught off an outside edge, both dismissals courtesy of Mahmud.
Pant and Jaiswal’s Stand Stabilizes India
Nahid Rana, introduced as the first-change bowler, posed fresh challenges with his pace and bounce. Returning to Test cricket after nearly two years, Rishabh Pant found his rhythm, striking a boundary over backward point. Despite Mahmud’s sustained pressure, Jaiswal capitalized on a rare loose delivery to bring India’s total to 50.
Rana’s pace suited Pant, who hit a couple of boundaries and built a promising stand with Jaiswal. The opener took on Mehidy Hasan Miraz in his first over, hitting two boundaries before Pant experienced some nervous moments, narrowly avoiding dismissal on a few occasions. Nonetheless, their half-century stand was crucial in steadying India’s innings.
