In a thrilling and commanding performance, Indian spinner R Ashwin emerged as the hero with the ball, scalping a remarkable six-wicket haul to complement his century in the Chennai Test against Bangladesh. Supported adeptly by fellow spinner Ravindra Jadeja, who picked up three wickets, India secured a resounding 280-run victory, taking a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series.
The visitors, Bangladesh, began the fourth morning facing the monumental task of needing 357 more runs for victory. Despite the sheer size of the task, openers Najmul Hasan Shanto and Shakib Al Hasan showed resolve and fortitude, surviving the first hour without error. Both left-handers faced a stern examination from India’s pace duo, Mohammad Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah, whose angled deliveries across the bat presented a consistent threat. Adding to their challenges, Jadeja, delivering balls into the rough outside the off-stump of the left-handers, maintained relentless pressure on the batters. The uneven turn and bounce on the pitch also kept wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant busy, causing him to miss a crucial stumping chance off Shakib.
The opening pair occasionally used the sweep shot to counter Jadeja’s spin, which provided some temporary relief and earned them a few boundaries during a 48-run partnership. Nevertheless, a breakthrough for India felt imminent. It arrived when spinner R Ashwin entered the fray and struck with his very first over. Shakib’s effort, a muted inside edge, was expertly caught at short leg, initiating a collapse in the Bangladeshi innings. This dismissal opened the floodgates, and Ashwin, in tandem with Jadeja, began dismantling the visitors’ batting lineup.
Litton Das, a key batsman for Bangladesh, managed to survive a few tentative moments but eventually nicked a Jadeja delivery to slip. Mehidy Hasan, attempting to counter with aggressive play, tried a big shot but was caught at long-on, providing Ashwin with his 37th five-wicket haul in Test cricket—a milestone that placed him on par with legendary Australian spinner Shane Warne in the all-time list.
. Ashwin continued his destruction, claiming another wicket when Taskin Ahmed top-edged a slog, leading rapidly to the end of the innings.
Jadeja put the finishing touches on the match, bowling past Hasan Mahmud’s wild swing to claim his 299th Test wicket. This last wicket sealed India’s comprehensive victory by 280 runs. The hosts’ exceptional performance with both bat and ball underscored this triumph. Ravindra Jadeja’s all-around display and Ashwin’s critical contributions with ball and bat stood out prominently as defining aspects of the match.
India’s first innings was highlighted by a dominant total of 376 runs, propelled by Ashwin’s 113 and Jadeja’s valuable 86. Young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal chipped in with a sturdy 56, ensuring a commanding first innings score. For Bangladesh, Hasan Mahmud’s impressive 5-83 was the only bright spot in an otherwise challenging outing.
In their second innings, India declared at 287/4, thanks largely to a century from Shubman Gill, who remained unbeaten on 119, and a robust 109 from wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant. These performances set a formidable target for Bangladesh, who struggled in their innings, managing just 149 in the first innings with Jasprit Bumrah claiming 4-50.
Despite a valiant effort from Najmul Hossain Shanto, who scored 82 in the second innings, Bangladesh’s batting order fell apart under the relentless pressure from Ashwin and Jadeja. Ashwin’s 6-88 decimated the lineup, leaving the visitors all out for 234.
India’s decisive victory not only gave them a 1-0 lead in the series but also showcased the depth and strength of their squad, particularly in their spin department. As the teams prepare for the second Test, India will be buoyed by this performance, while Bangladesh will need to go back to the drawing board to address the flaws exposed by India’s masterful display.