Chennai Test: Ruthless India hammer Bangladesh to extend 12-year home streak

India began their long Test season with a comprehensive win over Bangladesh in Chennai, wrapping up the match in three days and a session. Led by R Ashwin’s all-round show and defining performances from Ravindra Jadeja, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant, India clinched a 280-run win. The hosts went 1-0 up in the two-match series against the visiting Bangladesh team.
Chasing a Himalayan target of 515, Bangladesh bettered their first innings show, but withered away after the first hour on Sunday. R Ashwin picked up his 37th five-wicket haul and partnered with Ravindra Jadeja as the spin twins took nine wickets between them to bowl Bangladesh out for 234. Ashwin led the Indian team off the field for his heroic show in Chennai. He hit a hundred and took a five-wicket haul in the same Test for the fourth time in his career.
Chennai Test, Day 4: Highlights
India extended their envious run in home Tests, stretching an unbeaten run that began in 2012. India have now gone 4302 days without losing a home Test series. With the win in Chennai, India also outnumbered their losses with victories in Test cricket for the first time (179-178).
India have been a winning machine at home for over a decade, but they were tested by a spirited Bangladesh team. The Chennai pitch was not as spinner-friendly as it had been in the recent past, and the bowlers were made to work hard for their success. India fought back from a precarious situation in the first innings after they were asked to bat in ‘London-like conditions’ on the opening day.
India were down at 144 for 6 as Bangladesh, who headed into the Test series after clinching a historic win in Pakistan, were looking to put pressure on the home team. However, R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja rescued the team, stitching a record-breaking 199-run partnership- Ashwin channeled his inner Rishabh Pant and counter-attacked the Bangladesh bowling attack, hitting his fastest Test hundred. Jadeja played a solid hand in their partnership but missed out on a well-deserved hundred by 16 runs.
Ashwin and Jadeja’s rescue act helped India post 376 in their first innings. With the Chennai pitch continuing to aid pacers on Day 2, Jasprit Bumrah showcased why he is one of the finest all-conditions bowlers, picking four wickets. Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj chipped in with two wickets each. Despite local hero Ashwin going wicketless, India bundled Bangladesh out for 149.
India did not enforce follow-on and successfully batted Bangladesh out of the Test match, thanks to Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill. With Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli suffering rare twin failures in a home Test, Pant and Gill dominated the Bangladesh bowling attack and helped India stretch their lead beyond 500.
It was an emotional return to Test cricket for Rishabh Pant as the Indian wicketkeeper-batter looked at his flamboyant and free-flowing best. Pant equalled MS Dhoni’s record for the most hundreds in Tests by an Indian wicketkeeper-batter in just his 34th Test. The Delhi Capitals captain enjoyed his time behind the wickets as he was at his chirpy best, continuing his love affair with the traditional format.
On the other hand, Shubman Gill made up for missing out in the first innings with a solid hundred in the second. The young batter solidified his status as the new No. 3 batter for India, giving the dressing room plenty of confidence in the long season.
Chasing 515, Bangladesh rode on a solid start from their opener Zakir Hasan and Shadman Islam to frustrate the Indian stars on Day 3 evening. However, Jasprit Bumrah and R Ashwin knocked over the openers before captain Najmul and Shakib Al Hasan resisted the Indian charge.
India continued to be probe with their disciplined lines and lengths on Sunday morning, but Shanto and Shakib did well to not throw it away in the first hour. However, R Ashwin came into the attack after the drinks break and ran through the Bangladesh batting unit. While Shakib threw it away after a strong start, Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz were disappointing with their mindless approach. Jadeja chipped in as he found help from the rough marks on the pitch.
Having taken the upper-hand in the series, India will look to complete a clean sweep when the two teams meet in the second Test in Nagpur on September 27.