Ashwin’s All-Round Brilliance Powers India to 280 Runs Victory over Bangladesh in the 1st test
R Ashwin, India’s star spinner, showcased a brilliant all-around performance in the opening Test of the series, as India defeated Bangladesh by a commanding 280 runs.
Not only did Ashwin score a century, but he also grabbed six wickets in the Test match, which is the fourth time he has done both. India won the match and the series 1-0 because to the dominance of Ravindra Jadeja, who took three wickets.
Key Performances and Match Results
India 376 (Ashwin 113, Jadeja 86, Mahmud 5-83) and 287 for 4 dec (Gill 119*, Pant 109, Mehidy 2-103)
Bangladesh 149 (Shakib 32, Bumrah 4-50, Jadeja 2-19) and 234 (Shanto 82, Ashwin 6-88, Jadeja 3-58)
India won by 280 runs.
Match Analysis
On the fourth morning in Chennai, R Ashwin achieved his fourth century and five-for in the same Test, and his second in consecutive Tests in Chepauk, to give India a 1-0 series lead over Bangladesh. Najmul Hossain Shanto, the captain of Bangladesh, avoided being hit by the hard bowling and played a wicketless first hour alongside Shakib Al Hasan.
However, in the second hour, Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja overcame the opposition. Ashwin tied the legendary Shane Warne with his 37th five-wicket haul, only surpassed by Muthiah Muralidaran’s 67.
India was denied early in the day despite needing six wickets to win. Despite being wicketless, Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah played impressive sessions during the opening hour. Siraj, in particular, bowled for the entire hour, consistently moving past Shanto’s bat and attempting to speak with him verbally, but Shanto resisted. Despite having a knock on his fingers, Shakib was able to keep Shanto company.
However, shortly after the game, Chennai Super King Jadeja and his kid Ashwin got together to remind everyone of how Bangladesh was defeated by their batting combination on the first day of play. Shakib played down the wrong line in Ashwin’s opening delivery, which allowed Yashasvi Jaiswal to make another excellent catch at short leg. With this wicket, he moved up to No. 8 on the all-time wicket-takers’ table, surpassing Courtney Walsh’s 519.
Litton Das was soon given an advantage by Jadeja’s rapid pace and turn, making the catch at first slip simpler. Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who was playing at home, gave Ashwin a gift after deciding to take on the long-on fielder and ended up handing Jadeja a simple catch. It was fitting that Ashwin’s five-wicket haul was capped off by a Jadeja catch.
In an attempt to farm the strike, Shanto tried hitting Jadeja with the final delivery of an over, but the cunning spinner went wide to give away a thick edge that took a wicket. After then, it was just a matter of time. A small detail: in the subsequent over, Jadeja took his third wicket, which was what may have been Ashwin’s seventh wicket, but it was not given or reviewed.
Rishabh Pant: ‘Coming Back to Test Cricket, Where I Belong Most, Is Great’
It has been nothing short of extraordinary to see Rishabh Pant return to Test cricket. Following a catastrophic car accident in the beginning of 2023 that left him fighting for his life, the explosive batter-wicketkeeper made an incredible return to international cricket. Pant confirmed that Test cricket is his most comfortable environment when he tied MS Dhoni’s record for the most centuries by an Indian wicketkeeper in the opening Test match against Bangladesh in Chennai.
Rohit Sharma stated that “he is loving it every day after returning from injury because he wanted to play all three formats”
We all wondered, Rishabh Pant included, if he would ever play cricket again, let alone be the same flashy Pant that the world had fallen in love with at the beginning of 2023. His automobile caught fire on a road accident while he was traveling to Uttarakhand to surprise his mother; most people would consider it a blessing to survive, much less return to elite competition.
In under two years, he has surpassed all predetermined recovery timelines, returned as a Test jack in the box, and, despite missing the home ODI World Cup, is now a T20I world champion.
Even though Pant first came to our attention as a T20 player, Test cricket is where he is most comfortable, as he proved when he equaled MS Dhoni on most hundreds as an India wicketkeeper in his comeback Test match.
After India defeated Bangladesh by 280 runs in Chennai, Pant told the broadcasters, “It was definitely emotional because coming back I wanted to score in every and every match, which I couldn’t do [in the first innings, where he was part of a recovery but made a mental error].” However, it’s wonderful to be returning to Test cricket, where I truly belong. I had fun taking a chance and became a little emotional. Ultimately, though, nothing makes me happier than to simply be on the field.”
At Dhoni’s virtual home stadium, Pant tied Dhoni for hundreds. Pant claimed to adore the atmosphere there as well. “A lot special because I love playing in Chennai, first of all,” Pant stated. “Secondly, this was my first Test match back after my injury, and I believe I wanted to play all three formats.” Simply adore it every single day.”
Pant may not have scored a much in the first innings (39), but he was first to arrive at 34 for 3, ahead of KL Rahul, and he and his pal Shubman Gill added 62 runs. “I try to read the situation in my own way,” Pant stated. “And I believe you should change partnerships when you’re thirty for three. And that’s just what Gill and I did outside. It certainly helps, in my opinion, when you are talking with someone with whom you have a fantastic relationship outside of work.”
Pant’s return was praised highly by Captain Rohit Sharma. “He has been through some really tough times, and the way he has managed himself through those tough times was superb to watch,” Rohit commented. “Obviously, this is the format he likes the best. He returned to the IPL, then went on to the World Cup, which was a very successful World Cup.
“We never worried about what he would do with the bat. We were always aware of what he possessed both in the gloves and the bat. All that was needed was to get him back into the game and give him some playing time. He deserves recognition as well. He continued to play the Duleep Trophy, prepared for this Test match, and immediately made an impact on the outcome of the game.”
