Third innings of the first Test between India and Bangladesh has begun thanks to a fast-moving second day in Chennai. India could only add 37 runs to their overnight score as they were bowled out for 376. What followed next was an all-round bowling effort which restricted Bangladesh for 149. Jasprit Bumrah was the wrecker-in-chief with figures of 4/50. Having taken a big lead of 227 runs, India decided to bat again despite having an option of enforcing the follow-on. Bangladesh fought back with the ball, taking three quick wickets early, but despite that, India still remains in command of the game with a lead of 308 runs.
Rohit Sharma’s decision to bat again and not enforce the follow-on was understandable as he wanted to give opportunities to the batters who failed in the first innings. Unfortunately for India, their two main batters, Rohit and Virat Kohli, got out cheaply. Shubman Gill is looking solid, and with Rishabh Pant at the other end, India will aim to set a big target for Bangladesh.
At the start of the day, Bangladesh immediately took the second new ball, and Taskin, unlike yesterday, bowled much better, earning rewards for his hard work and accuracy. Of the four wickets that fell in the first hour, Taskin accounted for three. His bowling partner, Hasan Mahmud, claimed the last one, registering his second five-wicket haul and becoming the first Bangladeshi bowler to take a five-fer on Indian soil. It took the pace duo just 12 overs to take the remaining four wickets.
Taskin bowled probing lines right from the start, and it didn’t take long for him to make an impact. He bowled a peach of a delivery to dismiss Ravindra Jadeja, in a manner identical to how Jaiswal was dismissed by Nahid Rana. This was the breakthrough Bangladesh needed, as it ended a 199-run partnership. Ashwin and Akash Deep played rash shots and paid the price.
Bangladesh’s response with the bat was disappointing. Shadman Islam edged a delivery from Bumrah in the opening over, but it fell wide of the slip fielder, and he also missed outside off. In an attempt to adjust his approach, Bumrah came around the wicket, and Shadman left a delivery that swung in, resulting in his dismissal for 2. Zakir Hasan received a fortunate reprieve when Mohammed Siraj struck him on the pads; India opted not to review the decision, but replays later indicated it would have been three reds.
After Bumrah and Siraj each bowled three overs, Akash and Ashwin were brought into the attack. The change worked as Akash dismissed Zakir and Mominul Haque in consecutive deliveries. Both wickets fell in similar fashion, with the ball coming back in sharply. Post-lunch, Najmul played a few beautiful strokes, but just as he began to find some rhythm, an error in judgment cost him his wicket. In the next over, Mushfiqur Rahim followed his captain to the dugout after edging an outgoing delivery that could’ve been left.
The hopes were now pinned on the experienced duo of Shakib Al Hasan and Litton Das. Drawing on all their experience, both batters stitched together a fifty-run partnership. Anything short or overpitched was swiftly dispatched to the boundary, making batting look easy and the pitch appear flat. Their effective strike rotation and regular flow of boundaries prompted Rohit to bring in Ravindra Jadeja. Although Ashwin and Jadeja didn’t get much purchase from the surface, they managed to keep the run rate in check.
Litton and Shakib struggled to find boundaries against the spinners as easily as they had against the pacers. With pressure mounting, Litton attempted a sweep against Jadeja, leading to his downfall as India’s field change paid off. Shakib soon followed, trying a reverse sweep that also resulted from a field adjustment. These two shots proved costly for Bangladesh, leading to their inevitable collapse at the end of the innings.
Brief scores: India 376/10 (Ravichandran Ashwin 113, Ravindra Jadeja 86; Hasan Mahmud 5/83) & 81/3 (Shubman Gill 33*, Virat Kohli 17; Nahid Rana 1/12) vs Bangladesh 149/10 (Shakib Al Hasan 32, Mehidy Hasan Miraz 27*; Jasprit Bumrah 4/50). India lead by 308 runs.