India vs Bangladesh, 1st Test, Day 4: On Sunday India beat Bangladesh by 280 runs in the first Test match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Bangladesh seemed like they would put up a fight on Day 4 with an overnight score of 158/4 however, the lack of resistance from the lower order meant that they capitulated and were bowled out for a mere 234 with 10 minutes to go for lunch.
Here are the key takeaways from the fourth day’s play at Chepauk:
Ashwin master of fourth innings
Ashwin’s six wickets in the second innings took him to 99 wickets taking him past Anil Kumble (94 wickets) for the most wickets in the fourth innings for India. The off-spinner with clever pace-change ups and subtle variations becomes doubly lethal in the final innings when the pitch has deteriorated significantly. The record is another string to his cap to what already is an illustrious career.
Rusty Kohli and Rohit
Rohit Sharma has last played a Test innings in March earlier this year against England and Virat Kohli has played in January against South Africa. The lack of red-ball cricket was seen in both players as they struggled to judge the length and looked out of sorts against Bangladesh seamers who have come on the back of a Test series against Pakistan.
Shanto is good but is it enough?
Bangladesh Skipper Najmul Shanto though has led his side admirably batting at number three, he needs to stack up some big scores. He did manage to get a good-looking 82 in the second innings however batting in an inexperienced top order he would be expected to convert 80’s into daddy hundreds if Bangladesh has to be competing against top sides regularly. Despite the contribution skipper averages 29.5 in Test cricket.
Starts but no conversions
In both innings, Bangladesh had four players who have gone past 20. The batters did all the hard work done to get adjusted to the pace and bounce of innings. However, once they got their eye in and were expected to take on the responsibility and score big they threw their wickets away with a lapse of concentration or poor shot selection which did not happen in the Pakistan series.
India is tough to beat
Bangladesh have come into the series with a high of beating Pakistan in their backyard for the first time. They did start well against India on Day 1 reducing them to 144/6 however, once Ashwin counter-punched alongside Jadeja on that evening it was downhill for Bangladesh and old demons seem to have come back to haunt them. While it is not to say Bangladesh would not beat India in Kanpur or anytime in the future the Test was a reality check on how formidable India is in home conditions and how they managed to remain unbeaten in 17 series straight.
