In a stunning display of cricketing prowess, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja orchestrated a comprehensive 280-run victory for India against Bangladesh in the Chennai Test. Ashwin, the star performer, took center stage with six wickets to complement his earlier century, while Jadeja ably supported him with three wickets to his name.
The fourth morning began with Bangladesh requiring an improbable 357 runs to win, with Najmul Hasan Shanto and Shakib Al Hasan at the crease. Displaying immense resilience and composure, the left-handers navigated through the first hour without losing their wickets, even though they were rigorously tested by the Indian pace duo of Mohammad Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah. The duo worked hard to keep the batsmen on their toes, regularly probing with deliveries angled across the stumps.
At the other end, Jadeja was consistent in utilizing the rough outside the left-handers’ off stump, creating opportunities and keeping the batsmen in check. The uneven bounce and turn added layers of complexity for the batsmen and proved to be a challenge for wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, who missed a stumping opportunity against Shakib.
Shanto and Shakib resorted to the sweep shot with varying success, managing to accumulate some boundaries and build a promising 48-run partnership. However, the breakthrough was imminent. When Ashwin was introduced into the attack, the pressure finally told on Shakib, who inside-edged a delivery to short leg in Ashwin’s very first over. This dismissal triggered a collapse.
Ashwin and Jadeja bowled in tandem and systematically dismantled the Bangladesh batting lineup. Litton Das was the next to fall, having been bamboozled a couple of times before being dismissed by Jadeja at slip. The wickets continued to tumble as Mehidy Hasan’s attempt at an extravagant shot resulted in a catch at long on, giving Ashwin his 37th Test five-wicket haul and equalling him with the legendary Shane Warne in the all-time list.
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Taskin Ahmed became Ashwin’s final victim, top-edging a slog, ensuring the end came swiftly. Jadeja capped off the demolition by getting past Hasan Mahmud’s wild shot, bringing his own tally to 299 Test wickets. This comprehensive performance not only sealed a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series but also showcased the depth and versatility of India’s bowling attack.
India’s batting had laid a solid foundation for this victory. In their first innings, contributions from Ashwin (113), Jadeja (86), and Yashasvi Jaiswal (56) saw India post a commendable 376, countering Hasan Mahmud’s impressive 5-83. The second innings saw declarations with scores of 287/4, highlighted by undefeated centuries from Shubman Gill (119*) and Rishabh Pant (109).
Despite Bangladesh’s efforts, their first innings crumbled to 149 all out under the fiery spell of Jasprit Bumrah, who took 4-50. Their second innings showed some fight, with Najmul Hossain Shanto top-scoring with 82, but it wasn’t enough to avoid an innings defeat. Ashwin’s 6-88 and Jadeja’s strategic bowling were too much for the batsmen.
Thus, India’s blend of batting excellence and expert spin bowling outshone Bangladesh, earning them a commanding victory and a morale boost heading into the second Test. The performances of Ashwin and Jadeja, in particular, reinforced their status as world-class all-rounders—continuing India’s dominance against visiting teams in home conditions.
The win not only demonstrated India’s cricketing depth but also marked a significant milestone for Ashwin and Jadeja in their Test careers. For Ashwin, it was another endorsement of his elite spin-bowling skills, placing him amongst cricket’s greats, while Jadeja inched closer to his personal milestone of 300 Test wickets.