India’s pace troika was at its menacing best against Bangladesh, helping the hosts seize control of the first Test on the opening day in Indore. On a wicket that offered bounce and carry, Bangladesh were bundled out for 150, lasting barely two sessions.
With ample time at their disposal, India ended the day at 86/1 in 26 overs, losing Rohit Sharma’s (6) wicket to Abu Jayed.
The notable aspect during the Indian innings was Cheteshwar Pujara (46*) outscoring the more flamboyant Mayank Agarwal (37*) during their unbroken 72-run stand, leaving ominous signs for the four-man Bangladesh attack.
The first day’s proceedings starkly highlighted the gulf between the world’s No 1 and No 9 Test side. Umesh Yadav (2/47 in 14.3 overs), Ishant Sharma (2/20 in 12 overs) and Mohammed Shami (3/27 in 12 overs) made life difficult for a team whose batsmen lacked both in technique and temperament.
A luckless Ravichandran Ashwin (2/43 in 16 overs), let down by Ajinkya Rahane in the slips cordon, also had a couple of clean-bowled dismissals in his kitty in the post-lunch session.
The three Indian pacers consistently bowled at 140 kmph, with seam, swing and bounce, making life difficult for the Bangladeshi batsmen. Each of the three displayed different qualities and it was evident from the manner of dismissals.
Ishant’s bowling was about disconcerting bounce from length that had opener Shadman Islam caught behind and the occasional fuller delivery holding its line that forced Liton Das to edge one to Virat Kohli in the slips.
As for Yadav, he started with brisk pace, getting it to seam into other opener Imrul Kayes and making him expect more incoming deliveries. Just when Kayes was getting used to a pattern, the 32-year-old produced away going deliveries against the left-hander, squaring him up and the edge flew to slips.
Mohammed Shami, probably the craftiest among the contemporary Indian pacers, showed there is no one better when it comes to getting reverse swing with 50-over old SG Test ball.
Mushfiqur Rahim (43), Bangladesh’s top-scorer, who led a charmed life and was dropped twice, didn’t have a clue when one swung back to knock the stumps back after he was beaten by away going deliveries. The next one by Shami swung even more as Mehidy Hasan (0) was adjudged leg-before although a DRS call could have saved him, had he opted for one.
In the first session, Shami had dismissed Mohammad Mithun with conventional inswing. They attacked relentlessly and it didn’t matter that India wasn’t having a great day as far as slip catching was concerned. Yadav could have got Mushfiqur early had Kohli latched on to one in the third slip.
Ashwin had both Mushfiqur and Mahmudullah Riyad dropped by Rahane at first slip. Mominul Haque (36) and Mahmudullah were dismissed due to poor judgement and shot selection respectively. First he angled one to left-hander Haque, who thought it will be a conventional off-break and decided to leave the delivery. To his horror, it came in with the angle to peg the off-stump back. Mahmudullah was lucky when Rahane dropped a regulation catch at slips but a rank bad shot brought his downfall.
The right-hander tried to sweep Ashwin from outside the off-stump but was bowled round the legs, leaving all three stumps exposed.
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