A fine hundred from Ravichandran Ashwin led India’s revival on the opening day of the first Test against Bangladesh. Ashwin (102*) and Ravindra Jadeja (86*) forged a record partnership for the seventh wicket, ushering India into the ascendancy after being under the cosh in the first two sessions.
Despite Yashasvi Jaiswal’s half-century, India were struggling at 144/6, largely due to Hasan Mahmud’s penetrative bowling. Ashwin and Jadeja joined forces to launch a fine counterattack as they put on 195 in only 227 balls to guide India to 339/6 at Stumps on the opening day.
India scored only 88 runs and lost three wickets in each of the first two sessions but Ashwin and Jadeja navigated the conditions masterfully, collecting 20 fours and 4 sixes between them to help the hosts fetch 163 runs in the final session at a rate of over five an over. Bangladesh were sloppy with their over-rate, managing only 23 and 25 overs in the morning and afternoon session respectively, and could only deliver 32 overs in the final session on Day 1, even as the extra 30 minutes were used.