India vs Bangladesh 1st Test Day 1 Highlights: IND 339/6
The first day of the India vs Bangladesh 1st Test at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram saw India dominate proceedings, ending the day on a strong 339/6. The Indian batsmen showcased their prowess against the Bangladeshi bowlers, with some crucial partnerships and individual brilliance. Let's delve into the day's highlights:
Early Stumbles:
- A shaky start: India's opening pair of KL Rahul and Shubman Gill failed to make a significant impact, with Rahul falling for a duck, caught behind off Khaled Ahmed. Gill followed suit shortly after, getting trapped lbw by Shoriful Islam for 11.
- Shreyas Iyer's fighting fifty: Cheteshwar Pujara and Shreyas Iyer consolidated the innings with a crucial partnership. Iyer looked in good touch, scoring a fine fifty before falling to Taijul Islam for 52.
Dominant Middle Order:
- Pujara's patient knock: Cheteshwar Pujara continued his steady run-scoring form, batting with resilience and composure. He anchored the innings with a crucial 90-run stand with Virat Kohli.
- Kohli's century: The former Indian captain showcased his class with a magnificent century, scoring his 29th Test ton. He looked in complete control, reaching the three-figure mark in style. He was eventually dismissed for 112, bowled by Taijul Islam.
Late Surge:
- Rishabh Pant's power-hitting: Pant came in and played with his usual aggression, smashing 46 off just 48 balls. He provided a quick boost to the scoring rate, hitting five boundaries and a six.
- Axar Patel's calm innings: Axar Patel played a valuable innings, contributing a crucial 36 runs. He partnered with Pant to form a useful stand and helped India reach a commanding score.
- Bangladesh's struggles: The Bangladeshi bowlers struggled for consistency, with their lack of experience evident. The spinners, in particular, found it difficult to control the run flow against the Indian batsmen.
Day 1 Verdict:
India ended day one in a commanding position, with a healthy first-innings lead. Their batting depth and experience proved too much for the Bangladeshi bowling attack. The Indian bowlers will look to capitalise on this advantage and aim for a strong performance with the ball on day two. Bangladesh will need to find a way to dismiss the remaining Indian batsmen quickly and put on a strong batting performance of their own to stay in the contest.
