Hasan Mahmud struck early blows in India’s innings before Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant steadied the ship with a half-century partnership during the first session of the opening Test in Chennai. Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto opted to bowl under cloudy skies, and Mahmud gave his team a dream start by taking three quick wickets. However, Jaiswal and Pant combined for an unbroken 54-run stand, leading India to 88/3 at Lunch on Day 1.
Taskin Ahmed also made life difficult for Jaiswal early on, generating both bounce and movement to beat the bat. He nearly trapped Indian captain Rohit Sharma with a sharp delivery, but a review saved the skipper when an incoming ball from Mahmud struck his pad. The seamers found plenty of assistance from the moisture in the pitch, troubling India’s openers. Rohit finally broke the shackles with a boundary through point off Mahmud, and Jaiswal followed suit with a flick for four off Taskin.
Mahmud soon broke the partnership, getting one to move away from Rohit, who edged to Najmul at second slip. Jaiswal countered by driving Taskin for two boundaries, but India suffered another setback when Shubman Gill was caught down the leg side off Mahmud for a duck. Virat Kohli, making his Test return after several months, started cautiously but edged a wide delivery from Mahmud to the wicketkeeper for just 6, leaving India struggling at 34/3 within the first hour.
First-change bowler Nahid Rana tested the Indian batters with his pace and bounce, but Pant, returning to the Test side after almost two years, got going with a cut shot over backward point off Rana. Mahmud, continuing his probing spell after the drinks break, kept troubling the batters but allowed one loose delivery that Jaiswal dispatched for a boundary, helping India cross 50 runs.
Rana’s pace seemed more comfortable for Pant, who struck a couple of boundaries through covers and with a commanding pull shot. Pant and Jaiswal also rotated the strike well, scoring at a steady pace. Jaiswal targeted Mehidy Hasan Miraz, hitting two fours off his first over. Pant, meanwhile, survived a short ball from Taskin and later edged one off Taskin that fell just short of first slip, allowing him to bring up the 50-run partnership with a boundary.
