Visitors Bangladesh arrived in Chennai with high hopes following a historic victory in Pakistan, but they were unable to contend with an Indian team led by Rishabh Pant, who celebrated a triumphant return from a serious car crash.
Bangladesh has yet to defeat India in Tests, with a record of 12 losses and 2 draws in their 14 encounters.
Chasing a daunting target of 515, Bangladesh was bowled out for 234 by the end of the first session on a gloomy fourth day. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto was the top scorer with 82 runs, having formed a 48-run partnership with Shakib Al Hasan before the team resumed the day at 158-4.
With this victory, India takes a commanding 1-0 lead in the two-match series, aiming to solidify their position at the top of the World Test Championship rankings.
“It was a great result considering what lies ahead,” said skipper Rohit Sharma, as India commenced a challenging Test season consisting of 10 matches.
Hometown hero Ravichandran Ashwin struck first, ending a resilient partnership by dismissing Shakib for 25. The spinner, who claimed three wickets on day three, also removed Mehidy Hasan Miraz for eight, achieving his 37th five-wicket haul, equalling the late Shane Warne. Muttiah Muralitharan holds the record with 67.
Ashwin’s performance was particularly impressive following his 113 runs that helped India reach a total of 376 in the first innings. “He’s always there for us over the years,” Rohit praised the 38-year-old veteran, who was named man of the match. “I don’t know if I can adequately express what he does for the team; he looks like he’s never out of the game.”
Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja added to Bangladesh’s woes by dismissing Litton Das for just one run, before taking out Najmul’s valiant stand, finishing with three wickets for the innings.
In the first innings, Ashwin and Jadeja’s remarkable 199-run partnership for the seventh wicket rescued India from a precarious 144-6. India declared their second innings at 287-4 on day three, bolstered by centuries from Shubman Gill (unbeaten at 119) and the returning Pant (109), who shared a crucial 167-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
“I just enjoyed batting and got a little emotional,” Pant said after his sixth Test ton. “But being in the field gives me more pleasure than anything else.”
This Test marked Virat Kohli’s return after the birth of his second child, having missed India’s 4-1 victory over England earlier this year. However, Kohli struggled, scoring just six and 17.
India’s bowlers, led by Jasprit Bumrah, made a strong start, dismissing Bangladesh for just 149 in their first innings.
Bangladesh’s skipper Najmul acknowledged the need for improvement in their first innings batting ahead of the second Test. “We need to be careful at the top of the order and put some runs on the board; that’s a key learning from this match. All batters believe they can bounce back,” he stated.
Bangladesh’s Hasan Mahmud shone with five wickets in the first innings and had India reeling at 34-3 early in the match.
The two teams will now travel to Kanpur for the second Test, starting Friday.
