3 Key Takeaways From Day 1 Of IND vs BAN 1st Test

IND vs BAN 1st Test Day 1 was a tale of two halves (X)IND vs BAN 1st Test Day 1 was a tale of two halves (X)

India and Bangladesh’s first Test at Chennai’s Chepauk Stadium opened with high drama as both teams experienced moments of dominance. As stumps were drawn at 339/6 after 80 overs, India's recovery from 34/3 to a commanding position was nothing short of remarkable, courtesy of a scintillating partnership between Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.

Let's break down three key takeaways from the opening day of the IND vs BAN 1st Test.

1. Indian Top Order Struggles Against the Moving Ball

The morning session was a nightmare for India's top order, as Hasan Mahmud’s fiery new-ball spell rocked the hosts. Bangladesh’s young paceman made the ball talk, and India had no answer to his movement off the seam.

Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli were all dismissed cheaply within the first 45 minutes, leaving India reeling at 34/3. The Indian batters, who are typically known for handling pressure, found themselves caught off guard by Mahmud’s pace and swing, a clear sign that the moving ball remains India’s Achilles’ heel.

Rohit’s early exit for just 5, nicking off to the keeper, was followed by Gill’s dismissal, who played a loose drive far away from his body. Even Virat Kohli, India’s talisman, was undone by Mahmud’s clever delivery that angled away just enough to take the edge.

The Indian top order must address this vulnerability, as their inability to see off the new ball almost put them in a hole too deep to recover from.

With the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia looming later this year, this could be an alarming trend. Indian fans will be hoping for significant improvement against the moving ball if they want to avoid similar setbacks in the upcoming challenges.

2. Indian Middle Order’s Failure to Build on Jaiswal’s Fighting Knock

Yashasvi Jaiswal, once again, displayed maturity beyond his years with a composed 56 off 118 balls. His steady hand was crucial in India’s rebuilding efforts after the early wickets, but his dismissal, followed by a mini-collapse in the middle order, exposed India's middle-order fragility.

Rishabh Pant, though aggressive, fell prey to a loose shot right after the lunch break, while KL Rahul struggled to get going and was eventually dismissed for 16. The recurring issue of middle-order inconsistency reared its head yet again, as neither Pant nor Rahul could capitalize on Jaiswal’s solid foundation.

While Jaiswal looked set to carry India towards a more commanding position, the quick succession of dismissals after his wicket left the team vulnerable at 144/6. 

India’s reliance on their all-rounders to bail them out highlights a structural issue, where the middle order is not stepping up to take control when the top order fails. This will be an area of concern moving forward, especially against stronger bowling attacks.

3. Bangladesh’s Over-Reliance on Hasan Mahmud

Hasan Mahmud’s sensational bowling performance gave Bangladesh early hope, but the visitors’ over-reliance on the young pacer became apparent as the day wore on. Mahmud, who took 4/58, was head and shoulders above the rest of the attack, consistently challenging the Indian batters with swing and seam movement.

However, once the new ball lost its sting, Bangladesh struggled to maintain pressure, especially with the spinners failing to back up Mahmud’s efforts. Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Nahid Rana, tasked with supporting Mahmud, were unable to extract much turn or bounce from the Chepauk surface.

Both bowlers failed to control the run flow, allowing Ashwin and Jadeja to counter-attack and take the game away from Bangladesh. The absence of a second potent seam option or a standout spinner left Mahmud isolated, and his workload may become a concern if Bangladesh cannot spread the burden of wickets more evenly.

IND vs BAN Day 2: What To Expect?

Day 1 was a tale of two halves. Bangladesh dominated the early exchanges with some brilliant bowling, exposing India’s struggles against the moving ball. But the hosts, led by Ashwin and Jadeja, turned the tide and took full control by the end of the day.

As the match progresses into Day 2, all eyes will be on how Bangladesh responds to the second new ball—and whether they can claw their way back into the contest or let the game slip further from their grasp.