Ashwin and Jadeja’s Record Breaking 195 Runs Partnership Lift India Against Bangladesh
Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja’s impressive partnership showcased India’s lower-middle order depth on an uncommon day for Test cricket in the country.
In addition to saving India from a dire 144 for 6, their undefeated 195-run partnership also reaffirmed a well-known fact: while most teams can equal India’s top order, very few can match their lower-order tenacity.
Key Performances and Match Scorecard, Day 1
Match Analysis
One unquestionable fact about India’s current dominant era persisted on a day when many Test cricket traditions in the country were disrupted: teams can match the country’s batting strength but lack the depth to outperform their lower-middle order.
R Ashwin, a guy from Chennai who turned 38 two days before the Test, might play another Test in Chennai, who knows. Or, better still, Ravindra Jadeja, the Super King of Chennai? If this is their last, they made a grand entrance on the opening day, bringing India back from 144 for 6 with a continuous partnership of 195 runs.
With his sixth Test hundred, Ashwin—one of the two almost identical spin twins—left his fellow Chennaians stunned with rasping strokes that echoed through the stands. Ashwin was the stronger batsman that day. Jadeja, on 86, finished the day undefeated despite being not far behind.
Bangladesh may not be strangers to witnessing an Indian seventh wicket crush their hearts, but the manner they reached that position was unmatched in recent memory. In an India-based Test match, a side elected to bowl for the first time in seven years.
India even declared that they would have followed suit. Not because rain prevented the pitch from being prepared; rather, this somewhat green, wet surface was intentionally made during a week in which Chennai saw record-breaking temperatures.
The clouds only served to reassure the teams that taking a chance on batting last in India was worthwhile. Then Hasan Mahmud, a wobble-seam line-and-length bowler with seam movement akin to Vernon Philander, destroyed the top order. With some mediocre bowling around Mahmud, India managed to rally from 34 for 3 for a little while, but Bangladesh quickly responded in the second session, taking three more wickets.
Subsequently, Ashwin began to drive, punch, pull, and toil. Jadeja came along. And the game changed completely. Up to that point, Mahmud ruled India. Mahmud was perfect, even when Taskin Ahmed and the fast-moving Nahid Rana threw the new ball away by bowling it too long or too short.
Before Rohit Sharma edged one to second slip, he was put to the test extensively with seam movement in both directions. Shubman Gill hit a leg-side feather, but throughout his eight-ball stay, he never seemed comfortable. Though there is a significant risk involved, Virat Kohli came out with all of his intentions, which led to an edge away from the body.
Then, against some mediocre bowling, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant—playing his first Test in almost 700 days—added 62 for the fourth wicket. This is Jaiswal’s sixth consecutive home test in which he has scored more over fifty. India took the lead before lunchtime, and Pant started to appear threatening. But after lunch, Pant made a bad decision to take a cut shot, which was fortunate for Mahmud, who persisted.
Then came from Taskin and Rana with an even better session. They gave a tougher test by bowling the decent length, and the ball still seamed around, albeit not as much as in the first session. Eventually, Rana got the better of Jaiswal by nicking him off with extra pace, and KL Rahul, who appeared calm, was caught spectacularly by Zakir Hasan at short leg.
Even though Mehidy Hasan Miraz may have taken a significant wicket in Rahul, the spinners usually were unable to exert any pressure on Bangladeshi skipper Najmul Hasan. He was effectively never in possession of a full attack. In the first session, Mahmud managed to keep them in by himself, and when the other quicks got their act together, they were without spinners to keep them fresh.
All of it is simple to say, but it takes work to show this shallowness at 144 for 6. Huge applause greeted Ashwin as soon as he arrived on the field; in fact, the cheers began as soon as Rahul fell, a moment that was exclusive to hitters before Tendulkar and Kohli. After hitting the pace of Rana for four second balls, he was able to get one first ball.
Though not as forceful as this one, Ashwin and Jadeja have performed numerous acts of rescue. Ashwin batted with considerable style; he stayed on the back foot, met balls at the peak of their bounce, and smashed them past square leg and covers. Jadeja used a more traditional knock-style of play, opening up only after gaining access and never passing up a chance to score. But Ashwin batted as if he had never left Chepauk.
The field needed to stretch out as the ball grew softer and the runs started to come in, while the spinners continued to offer simple boundaries. The two had been staring at each other in amazement at different times.
Jadeja appeared to be lucky to have the finest seat in the house when Ashwin picked up the speed of Rana over slips for four. Ashwin gave Jadeja a flat slog-sweep in exchange for the compliment. Bangladesh has forfeited its right to have enough catchers in place if the edge did indeed arrive.
Ashwin reached his hundred in just 108 balls six minutes before stumps, erupting in joy from the home crowd. To start the 80s, Jadeja celebrated by drilling a boundary back over the bowler in the same over. Just a little reminder that Bangladesh would have to play them again on day two, so it wasn’t finished yet.
Ravichandran Ashwin Creates Historic World Record During India vs Bangladesh 2024 Test Match
Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has become the first cricketer in over 147 years of Test cricket to achieve an extraordinary feat, further solidifying his legacy.
Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin made cricket history by being the first player to ever score more than fifty runs in a match and take more than thirty wickets in the game’s longest format. Thus, in the 147-year history of Test cricket, he is the first player to accomplish the feat.
At his home stadium in Chennai on Thursday, Ashwin, an all-rounder, achieved yet another remarkable feat during the first Test match against Bangladesh. With India struggling at 144/6, Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja launched a brilliant counterattack that saw Ashwin score 102* in 112 balls with 10 fours and two sixes. His runs were made at a 91.07 strike percentage.
With 36 five-wicket hauls, the third-most of any Test bowler, Ashwin has amassed six hundreds and fourteen fifties in the game’s longest format. He is the only cricket player with 30 five-wicket hauls and 20 or more fifty-plus runs in Test matches.
Ashwin has scored four century in Tests when he has been ranked eighth or lower. Daniel Vettori, an all-rounder from New Zealand, has amassed five tons of Test century runs from position eight or lower.
The 38-year-old all-rounder has a stellar record at MA Chidambram Stadium, where he currently plays. Ashwin has amassed 331 runs at an average of 55.16 in five Tests and seven innings, including two hundreds and a fifty. Additionally, Ashwin has claimed 30 wickets at a 23.60 average, his best stats coming from 7/103. At the venue, he has four five-wicket hauls and one ten-wicket haul.
In Test cricket, Ashwin is one of the few all-rounders with numerous five-fors and multiple hundreds at a venue, along with Ian Botham (England), Garfield Sobers (West Indies), Kapil Dev (India), Chris Cairns (New Zealand), and others.
Prior to the game, Bangladesh chose to bowl first after winning the toss. After the top-order fell apart, India was reduced to 34/3. India entered the game as opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (56 in 118 balls, nine fours) and Rishabh Pant (39 in 52 balls, six fours) stitched together a 62-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Ashwin and Jadeja (86* in 117 balls, with 10 fours and 2 sixes) put up a 195-run partnership to rescue India from 144/6. Ultimately, the day ended at 339/6.
Bangladesh’s best bowler, Hasan Mahmud (4/58), destroyed the Indian top order, dismissing Virat Kohli (6), Shubman Gill (0), and skipper Rohit Sharma (6).
