India looking steady to march through Bangladesh in first test at Chennai

 

India inched closer to wrap first test against Bangladesh (PC: BCCI)

 

India have strengthened their grip even further against Bangladesh on day 3 of the first test and are in the driver seat to seal the deal tomorrow. Riding on the knocks of two classy centurions Shubman Gill (119) and Rishabh Pant (109), India made sure that there is no way out for Bangladesh to sneak through them.

Gill and Pant both were aggressive from the start of their innings and pinned the Bangladeshi team to the walls. Bangladeshi bowlers toiled hard and looked down from the body language as even their most experienced campaigner Shakib-al-Hasan looked clueless. Pant came to his own and staged his comeback to tests in grand style. This innings will give him the right impetus and boost for the upcoming home series against NZ and  against aussies on their home soil.

In reply, Bangladesh are struggling at 158/4 and looking down the barrel. Bangladeshi openers were aggressive as they compiled 62 runs for the first wicket. Zakir Hasan and Shadan Islam looked to counterattack but it was India’s pace spearhead Bumrah yet again who clinched Zakir Hasan on the individual score of 33. After that, centurion from first innings Ravichandran Ashwin came to the party as he had 3 scalps to his name, and we can expect even more on day 4 of the Chepauk pitch.

Ashwin first picked Shadman Islam who flicked the ball straight to Gill. After that he sneaked through Mominul Haque with straighter one knocking the off stump and then the lofted attempt from Mushfiqur Rahim gave Ashwin his third wicket whose catch was held by KL Rahul.

With the pitch expected to assist the spinners even more on day 4, one can expect the final outcome of the match even by the lunch time. For Bangladesh, it would require nothing less than a miracle to cross the boundary and to even think of getting India close to the rope. For them, their hopes rest in the hands of their seasoned campaigner Shakib and Najmul Shanto, their captain who is not out on 51 of 60 balls and looked positive in his approach. Bangladesh has a mountain to climb as they are 357 runs far and would have to play out of their skin to make a match of this. Liton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraj can contribute heavily as well but will they show the determination and rigidity to do so, only time will tell.

As far as India Is concerned, bowlers will look to wrap it up as quickly as possible and will look to consolidate the points on WTC (World Test Championship) points table. Jadeja looked good but didn’t have any wicket to show and will look to change that tomorrow.