Ashwin and Jadeja’s Heroics Lift India on Day 1 Against Bangladesh

India’s all-rounders Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja once again came to the team’s rescue on the opening day of the first Test against Bangladesh at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. After a top-order collapse, the duo’s heroic 195-run partnership for the seventh wicket took India from 144/6 to 334/6 at stumps.

The day began with Bangladesh winning the toss and opting to bowl first on a lively Chennai pitch. Hasan Mahmud ran through India’s top order, dismissing Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli cheaply. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant offered some resistance with a 60-run stand, but they too fell, leaving India in deep trouble.

At 144/6, with India’s innings teetering on the brink, Ashwin and Jadeja took control. Ashwin was aggressive from the start, reaching his half-century in just 58 balls. His innings was not just about survival; it was about counter-attacking. He played shots all around the ground, especially targeting the spinners, and kept the scoreboard ticking. Ashwin’s efforts saw him become only the second cricketer in the world, after Jadeja, to score 1,000 runs and take 100 wickets in the history of the World Test Championship.

Jadeja, on the other hand, played a calm and composed innings, building his score patiently while supporting Ashwin. As the partnership progressed, Jadeja too opened up, punishing the Bangladesh bowlers. By stumps, he was unbeaten on 86, just 14 runs away from what would be his fifth Test century.

The pair’s partnership completely transformed India’s innings. From a position of concern, they took India to a commanding total, scoring 163 runs in the final session alone. Ashwin reached his sixth Test century by the end of the day, his second at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, continuing his love affair with his home ground.

Bangladesh’s bowlers, who had been on top in the first two sessions, struggled in the final session. Hasan Mahmud was the pick of the bowlers with four wickets, while Mehdi Hasan Miraz and Nahid Rana claimed one each. However, their efforts were undone by Ashwin and Jadeja’s brilliance.

With India now in a strong position, Ashwin and Jadeja will look to further increase their lead on Day 2. Jadeja is just a few runs away from his century, and the duo could well surpass the 200-run partnership. It was a day to remember for Ashwin and Jadeja, as they showed once again why they are among the best all-rounders in world cricket.