File photo of Indian cricket team.© BCCI

Bangladesh batting coach David Hemp on Saturday asserted that his side’s batters certainly did better in their second innings than the first but warned them of the challenges ahead against a quality Indian bowling attack in the first Test in Chennai. India have put themselves in a prime position to win the first Test with Rishabh Pant (109) and Shubman Gill (119 not out) hitting magnificent hundreds on the third day. The hosts set Bangladesh an improbable target of 515 runs to win the Test. Bangladesh showed some spunk in their second innings to reach 158 for four when play was called off early due to bad light. They still need a whopping 357 runs for the result to be in their favour.

“The difference with the second (innings) is we got people that got in, so they faced balls. It’s all about scoring runs, and you’re looking to score, so that hasn’t changed,” Hemp said during the post-day press conference.

“We got tested or players got tested early on in their innings around the stumps more, and that was a big difference. Obviously, we’re playing against India, who possess some quality bowling, a very confident side, especially playing at home. So, you’re going to be challenged.”

The third day saw fine batting conditions, with less heat and the pitch still looking good.

Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto was batting on 51 not out off 60 balls and giving him company was star all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan (5 not out) at stumps on Day 3.

Hemp somewhat regretted that his batters failed to get going in the first innings on Friday.

“Obviously, we were in a really good position against India in the first innings, but building on that was unfortunate. I certainly believe the skill level within our group was good enough to deal with a certain number of balls.

“I think the difference between the first and the second innings was obviously ball space. So, I think the Indian bowlers certainly challenged the stumps really well in the first innings, and they knocked people over.

“So, when we sit back and look at it, review the game whenever that ends, that certainly would be a discussion point in terms of how can we improve our performance because that’s what we want to do.” In terms of bowling, their star spinner Shakib Al Hasan has curiously failed to get any wickets in this Test. Hemp, however, brushed aside any speculation that the 37-year-old Shakib might be suffering from a finger injury.

“No, not aware of that at all, sorry,” he said.

Hemp said that the Cheapuk track is still a “reasonable” one to bat, and expects his batters to put on a show on Sunday.

“In terms of days to bat, it’s still a good wicket. Today, we’ve seen that (Ravichandran) Ashwin obviously got a couple of balls to bounce quite significantly.

“But, if you still miss, you can still score. So for us tomorrow, it’s still a reasonable surface,” he signed off.

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli share a great camaraderie on and off the field. On Friday, a heartwarming video went viral on social media in which the duo could be seen bursting into laughter. It all started with India captain Rohit jokingly taps Shubman Gill‘s jaw with his left hand while talking to the player in the dugout. Kohli, who was sitting adjacent to Rohit, quickly reminded him that his act was being recorded by the camera. As soon as Rohit realised this, both Rohit and Kohli could not help and laughed their hearts out.

Watch it here:

Rohit casually hit Shubman Gill on his jaw

Virat told Rohit that we are on camera

Then all started laughing together

Watch this #INDvBAN

pic.twitter.com/8YlDwi2T2R

— Rohit Fan For Life (@RohitFanForLife) September 20, 2024

Ahead of the Border-Gavaskar series 2024-25 against India, Australia right-arm seamer Josh Hazelwood opened up on the game plan that his team will make for players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in the upcoming series.

The Border-Gavaskar series between India and Australia will begin on November 22, with the first Test at Perth.

Over the years, India has regained an upper hand over Australia in the series. India has won its previous four series against Australia in a row, including two wins in Australia in the 2018-19 and 2020-21 seasons.

This has made India a much more successful side in the series, with India winning the BGT 10 times and Australia winning it five times, with their last series win coming in during the 2014-15 season. Their last series win in India was in 2004-05.

“The strategy is probably more focused on the newer players we haven’t played much Test cricket against, like Jaiswal and even Shubman Gill, who we’ve only faced a few times. We’ve played against Virat, Rohit, and others for years, so we know what to do,” Hazlewood told Star Sports.

“The plan doesn’t really change that often. It’s about the basics–doing them well and for a long time. We usually find that, 9 out of 10 times, Test cricket comes back to that Plan A. You adapt to conditions and change things throughout the day or innings, but most of the time, it’s about executing that plan,” the fast bowler added.

(With ANI Inputs)

India’s seasoned all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja is eyeing to hit the 300 Test wickets milestone after his impressive outing with the ball on the second day of the first Test against Bangladesh in Chennai. The opening two days have been a topsy-turvy affair for both sides. Bangladesh managed to reduce India to 144-6, foreshadowing signs of wrapping up the first inning quickly. The experienced duo, who are well known for their capabilities with the bat, steadied the ship by stitching up a 199-run partnership.

On a benign surface, Ravichandran Ashwin took the mantle of piling up runs on the board, and Jadeja held the fort on the other end.

Ashwin’s brisk-paced 113-run knock on his home turf and Jadeja’s flawless 86 took the pressure off India’s shoulders. He shed light on the conversation that he had with Ashwin during their match-saving partnership in the opening Test against Bangladesh.

“First of all, Ashwin doesn’t need any advice (chuckles). I was just talking to Ash that we are not going to miscall or try, and make errors because the wicket was so good, and we both were batting very well. I said we’ll look to take easy singles, I’ll try and not make you run hard, and that was the conversation between us. Well, played to Ashwin. He played a brilliant knock at his home ground,” Jadeja said at the end of Day 2.

While Ashwin raised his bat for a hard-fought century, Jadeja fell 14 runs short. Taskin Ahmed forced out a healthy edge from Jadeja’s bat, ending his hopes of hitting his fifth Test century on a bitter note.

Despite missing out on his moment of glory, Jadeja built on a strong batting display with the ball. Even though the pitch didn’t have much on offer for him, he managed to deceive the experienced duo of Litton Das and Shakib Al Hasan.

Jadeja (296) added two scalps to his name, leaving him just four wickets short of hitting the 300 Test wickets milestone. He is eyeing to leave Chennai with the record in his impressive resume.

“I got out today, but it’s part and parcel of the game. Now, we have to put up a good score on the board in the second innings. I am very happy with my bowling, the way I went through today. It’s a good opportunity to take the 300th wicket on this ground,” Jadeja added.

After putting a mammoth total of 376 on the board, Bangladesh folded on just 14 in front of India’s bowling prowess. At the end of the second day’s play, India managed to assail a formidable 308-run lead.

Picture from India vs Bangladesh first Test match in Chennai.© AFP

Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja‘s rearguard performance salvaged India in the first innings of the first Test against Bangladesh, with both allrounders unbeaten at the end of the first day’s play at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. At stumps on day one, Team India were at 339 for 6, with Ashwin (102 not out) and Jadeja (86 not out) looking strong after an unbeaten 195-run partnership. Bangladesh failed to maintain their momentum after picking up six wickets in the first two sessions of day and ended up conceding 163 runs in the third session, failing to get a breakthrough.

Coming to the crease in the 43rd over, Ashwin was quick to smash a few boundaries to keep off the pressure. Jadeja helped the 38-year-old as the two eased into a solid partnership. Jadeja too kept a good strike rate and Bangladesh bowlers couldn’t keep up the pressure.

India crossed the 300-run mark in the 73rd over after playing 439 balls. Ashwin’s sixth Test hundred came in the 78th over. It was also his second ton at his home ground.

The entire dressing room, including the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and head coach Gautam Gambhir, stood on their feet to praise the century.

Watch it here:

A stellar TON when the going got tough!

A round of applause for Chennai’s very own – @ashwinravi99

LIVE – https://t.co/jV4wK7BgV2 #INDvBAN @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/j2HcyA6HAu

— BCCI (@BCCI) September 19, 2024

In the first two sessions of the day, the hosts struggled and lost quick wickets. Yashasvi Jaiswal‘s fifty helped steady the innings to some extent. He scored a gritty 56 off 118 deliveries.

At Tea, India were at 176 for 6 with Ravindra Jadeja (7*) and Ravichandran Ashwin (21*).

The post-lunch session resumed from 88/3 with Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant on the crease. Pant was dismissed on 39 by Hasan Mahmud and it was his fourth wicket.

KL Rahul came to the crease and scored 16 and was dismissed by Mehidy Hasan Miraz when the score was 144. At the same score, Jaiswal was dismissed after scoring 56 runs which came with the help of nine boundaries. After Jaiswal’s departure, Ashwin joined Jadeja and both of them built a partnership of 32 runs at Tea.

Other than Mahmud, Nahid Rana and Mehidy Hasan Miraz took one wicket each.

Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and opted to bowl in the first Test of the two match series that started on Thursday.

Both teams decided to field three seamers each, given the overcast conditions that promised assistance for the fast bowlers.

Bangladesh’s Hasan Mahmud was the standout bowler in the first session. Utilizing the conditions masterfully, claimed all three wickets, consistently troubling the Indian batters with his movement and accuracy.

Both captain Rohit Sharma and star batter Virat Kohli were out cheaply scoring six runs each. Rohit and Jaiswal opened the Indian innings, and at the close of the first session, the hosts were 88 for 3. Jaiswal, unbeaten on 37, and Pant, not out on 33, were at the crease, having steadied the ship after the early blows.

(With ANI Inputs)

Littered largely with lopsided contests, India’s hopes of walking down that familiar path will hinge on sorting an uncharacteristic batting infirmity against spin when they face Bangladesh in a two-Test series starting in Chennai from Thursday. Bangladesh, who are fresh from a recent 2-0 drubbing of Pakistan, are no pushovers this time and this will add to India’s list of concerns as they look to take that bold first step into a long season that features 10 Tests, including a possible berth in the World Test Championship Final.

India’s 40-4 (win-loss) home record in the last decade is awe-inducing but there is an ever-little crack, which is getting more pronounced in the past three years, particularly in the case of star batter Virat Kohli.

Kohli was a constant in India’s bull run at home since 2015, crunching runs for fun against all comers. But since 2021, his numbers against spin have dipped -an average of 30 in 15 Tests in this period.

This is not to hold against Kohli’s extraordinary qualities as a batter, but it’s an area that the champion cricketer himself will certainly want to improve upon.

Skipper Rohit Sharma has also been prolific in dismantling spin, especially since his promotion as an opener in 2017 against South Africa. He averaged over 90 against tweakers.

But since 2021, it has come down to a less flashy 44 in 15 matches. KL Rahul, a batter who is backed by Rohit as equally proficient against spin and pace, offers a slightly bleaker picture.

In the last three years, he has played five Tests at home but against the slower kind, the elegant right-hander’s average has taken a beating and stands at 23.40.

Collectively, these stats need to be taken as an indication of waning skills but, perhaps, also as a reminder to refocus on perfecting the art of playing spin, often the core strength of batters from this part of the world.

Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate had stressed on this point recently after India’s debacle against Sri Lankan spinners in a three-match ODI series which they lost 0-2.

There are bright points too in Rishabh Pant (five matches, average 70), Shubman Gill (10 matches, average 56) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (five matches, average 115).

However, the numbers of Jaiswal and Gill are constituted by their breakaway series against England earlier this year, but the Three Lions did not have an experienced spin attack to lean upon.

In contrast, Bangladesh have much more potent spinners in left-armers Shakib Al Hasan, Taijul Islam and off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who can hurt any opposition on their day.

Here, India will bank on the firepower and innovative approach of Pant to unsettle and eventually take down the visiting spinners as the Delhiite is expected to return to Test cricket for the first time since his horrific car accident in 2022.

In the bowling department, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja are certain to figure in the first eleven, and it’s as formidable a unit as one would get irrespective of conditions.

India will ponder over whether to go with a third seamer in either Akash Deep or Yash Dayal, considering that the MA Chidambaram Stadium may offer a red-soil pitch, or field a third spinner in Kuldeep Yadav as is the prevailing trend in a home Test.

India can also consider the option of giving another run to Axar Patel as it can give a fillip to late order batting against a Bangladesh attack that also has two express quicks in Nahid Rana and Hasan Mahmud.

New head coach Gautam Gambhir too might have a small but significant personal goal in front of him, that is to start the first Test series under his tutelage on a winning note, after returning from Sri Lanka with a tad underwhelming 1-1 record from a white ball tour.

An obsessed pursuant of victory, he will want to set it right.

Rohit might carry a contrarian view on such individual targets and dress rehearsals, but India’s effort in this series, first in six months for them in the traditional format, will certainly be a strong pointer to the course for the season ahead.

India: Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Yash Dayal.

Bangladesh: Najmul Hossain Shanto (C), Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Zakir Hasan, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Kumer Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Nahid Rana, Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Jaker Ali Anik.