The first day of the India vs Bangladesh 1st Test at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai will be remembered for the brilliant partnership between Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, who scripted a record-breaking seventh-wicket stand. India, which had been teetering at 144/6, found stability and momentum through their seasoned all-rounders, closing the day at 339/6.
### **Ashwin and Jadeja’s Record-Breaking Stand**
India’s innings seemed to be faltering early on, losing their top order to Bangladesh’s disciplined bowling attack. However, the arrival of Ashwin and Jadeja marked a turning point. Together, they displayed exceptional resilience, guiding India from a precarious position to a commanding total by the end of Day 1.
Ashwin’s masterful century—his sixth in Test cricket and second consecutive ton at Chepauk—highlighted the day. The pair’s partnership crossed multiple milestones, including the record for the highest seventh-wicket partnership at the historic Chepauk ground. This stand not only frustrated the Bangladesh bowlers but also showcased the duo’s ability to handle pressure in tough situations.
Ashwin, calm and composed, paced his innings meticulously. Jadeja, on the other hand, played an aggressive yet controlled knock, complementing his partner perfectly. The synergy between the two was evident as they continued to rotate the strike, while Jadeja also dispatched any loose deliveries for boundaries.
### **Session-by-Session Breakdown: A Day of Two Halves**
#### **First Session: Bangladesh Dominate India’s Top Order**
Bangladesh started the day on a positive note, with their bowlers putting India under significant pressure. The first session saw Bangladesh's bowlers taking full advantage of the early morning conditions, extracting movement from the pitch and keeping India’s batters on the back foot.
India’s top order struggled against this disciplined bowling attack. The opening pair of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill failed to provide a solid start, falling early to the swing and seam of Bangladesh’s pacers. Gill’s dismissal was particularly disappointing as he got out after getting set, edging a ball to the slip cordon. Virat Kohli, too, couldn’t make an impact, dismissed cheaply for just 12 runs. The early breakthroughs left India reeling at 64/3, with Bangladesh in the driver’s seat.
Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane tried to consolidate, but their stay at the crease didn’t last long either. Pujara’s gritty resistance ended when he was trapped LBW by Mehidy Hasan, while Rahane fell victim to a brilliant catch by Liton Das off the bowling of Taskin Ahmed. By lunch, India found themselves at 114/5, struggling to build any meaningful partnerships.
#### **Second Session: Bangladesh in Control, India in Deep Trouble**
The second session began with Bangladesh continuing their stranglehold on the Indian batting lineup. Wickets kept falling at regular intervals, and India’s situation worsened when Suryakumar Yadav, playing in his debut Test, departed for a quick but shaky 22. At 144/6, India’s innings seemed to be heading toward an early collapse.
However, it was at this critical juncture that Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja came together, forming a partnership that would shift the momentum entirely. Initially, both batters took their time to get settled, aware of the need to bat long and deep. Bangladesh’s spinners, led by Mehidy Hasan and Taijul Islam, bowled with tight lines, but Ashwin and Jadeja countered them with patience and precision.
Ashwin, known for his ability to bat under pressure, started rotating the strike while occasionally finding gaps for boundaries. Jadeja played the perfect foil, defending with determination but also seizing opportunities to attack. Their partnership began to take shape as India crossed the 200-run mark.
#### **Third Session: Ashwin’s Century and Jadeja’s Grit**
The final session belonged entirely to Ashwin and Jadeja. The duo not only repaired the early damage but also put India in a strong position by stumps. Ashwin was the more aggressive of the two, inching closer to his century as the day wore on. Bangladesh, who had looked so threatening earlier in the day, now appeared fatigued as they struggled to break this flourishing partnership.
Ashwin’s century came in the 88th over, much to the delight of the home crowd. It was a special moment, not just for him personally but also for the Indian team, as his knock had saved them from a potential disaster. This was Ashwin’s second consecutive hundred at Chepauk, following his ton against England in 2021. His celebration was muted, focused more on the job still at hand—building a big total.
Jadeja, while not reaching three figures by stumps, played a crucial role with his unbeaten half-century. His innings was a perfect mix of caution and aggression, as he played out the dangerous balls while dispatching the loose ones to the boundary. He remains at the crease on 64*, determined to add more runs on Day 2.
#### **End of Day 1: India in Command**
At the close of play, India had recovered admirably, thanks to the unbroken partnership between Ashwin and Jadeja. The scoreboard read 339/6, a total that looked highly unlikely when they were 144/6 earlier in the day. Their partnership, which had already reached 195 runs by the end of the day, is now the highest for the seventh wicket at Chepauk, surpassing the previous record set by Rahul Dravid and MS Dhoni.
Bangladesh, despite their early success, will be disappointed with how the day ended. They had India on the ropes but couldn’t break the resistance of Ashwin and Jadeja. Their bowlers, especially Taskin Ahmed and Mehidy Hasan, will need to regroup quickly to ensure that India doesn’t run away with the game on Day 2.
### **Looking Ahead: Day 2 Expectations**
India will resume Day 2 with Ashwin and Jadeja looking to push the score beyond 400, possibly aiming for a total that will allow them to dictate terms to Bangladesh. The Chepauk pitch, which has provided assistance to both pace and spin, is expected to deteriorate further as the match progresses, making the partnership between Ashwin and Jadeja all the more valuable.
For Bangladesh, the key will be to break this stand early and clean up the tail quickly. If they can restrict India to a score under 400, they will still be in the game. However, if Ashwin and Jadeja continue their dominance, Bangladesh could be staring at a huge first-innings deficit.
In all, Day 1 was a day of contrasting fortunes, with Bangladesh starting strong but India fighting back through their experienced all-rounders. The stage is now set for an exciting second day of Test cricket at Chepauk.
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