India secured a remarkable victory over Bangladesh by 280 runs in the first Test match held in Chennai. The standout performer was local hero Ravichandran Ashwin, who excelled with both bat and ball, earning the title of Player of the Match at 38 years old.
In this thrilling encounter, Bangladesh was set a daunting target of 515 runs. However, they crumbled in their second innings, bowled out for just 234 runs,
wrapping up the match before lunch on the fourth day (September 22). The second and final Test of the series will take place in Kanpur on September 27.
Ashwin played a crucial role in the victory, taking six wickets for 88 runs in the second innings, after scoring a magnificent 113 runs in India’s first innings.
This was Ashwin’s sixth Test century and marked his 37th instance of taking five or more wickets in a single innings, tying him with Shane Warne for the second most in Test history, only behind Muttiah Muralitharan.
In the fourth innings, Ashwin achieved the milestone of taking five or more wickets for the seventh time, sharing this record with Warne and Muralitharan. Only Rangana Herath surpasses him with 12 such performances.
This match marked the fourth time Ashwin has scored a century and taken five wickets in the same Test. He is the first player to achieve this feat twice at the same venue, having previously done so against England in 2021 in Chennai.
With this victory, India notched its 179th Test win. In its 92-year Test history, it is the first time India’s victories have outnumbered its losses.
India has played 580 matches, winning 179, losing 178, and drawing 222, with one tie. Notably, this was India’s largest victory margin against Bangladesh, eclipsing their previous record of 208 runs in 2017.
Ashwin’s success has propelled him to eighth place in the all-time Test wicket-takers list, surpassing Courtney Walsh with a total of 522 wickets.
He now boasts the best strike rate among the top eight bowlers, with a rate of 50.5, far surpassing Muralitharan, Warne, and Kumble.
Here are some key statistics:
- Most five-wicket hauls in Tests:
- 67 – Muttiah Muralitharan (133 Tests)
- 37 – Ravichandran Ashwin (101 Tests)*
- 37 – Shane Warne (145 Tests)
- Most wickets in the fourth innings:
- 99 – Ravichandran Ashwin
- 94 – Anil Kumble
In the first innings, India scored 376 runs, while Bangladesh was all out for 149, giving India a lead of 227 runs. After lunch on day three, India declared their second innings at 287 for 4.
This victory continues India’s unbeaten streak in Test series at home, extending back to November 2012, with an unbroken run of 17 series.
Head-to-Head Record: India vs. Bangladesh
- Total Matches: 14
- India Wins: 12
- Bangladesh Wins: 0
- Draws: 2
India’s Performance in Chennai (Tests)
- Total Matches: 35
- India Wins: 16
- Draws: 7
- Losses: 11
- Ties: 1
India’s Playing XI: Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep, and Mohammad Siraj.
Bangladesh’s Playing XI: Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmood, and Nahid Rana.
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