CHENNAI TEST: RAVICHANDRAN ASHWIN, RAVINDRA JADEJA SHINE TO BOOST INDIA'S CHANCES AGAINST BANGLADESH

R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja forged a crucial 195-run partnership off 227 balls on Wednesday to strengthen India's position on Day 1 of the first Test against Bangladesh at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. India were struggling at 144 for 6 in the second session, with the top order failing to build a partnership. However, Ashwin and Jadeja held the fort and prevented Bangladesh from finishing on top at the end of the first day.

Team India looked in dire straits after losing three wickets in both the morning and post-lunch sessions, despite Yashasvi Jaiswal's 56 off 118 balls helping the hosts reach 176 for 6 at tea.

Ashwin and Jadeja played the ball on its merits as the Chennai pitch improved as the day progressed, taking the attack to the opposition.

With their tremendous effort, Ashwin and Jadeja also joined the ranks of legends Kapil Dev and Syed Kirmani, both of whom have scored more than 500 partnership runs for the 7th wicket or below in Test cricket in home conditions.

Most parternship runs in India at number 7 or below

Kapil Dev and Syed Kirmani - 617 runs in 14 matches

R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja - 500* in 14 matches

MS Dhoni and VVS Laxman - 486 runs in 3 matches

Syed Kirmani and Ravi Shastri - 462 in 8 matches

Ravindra Jadeja and Wriddhiman Saha - 421 runs in 9 matches

For Bangladesh, Pacer Hasan Mahmud (4/58) bowled superbly, claiming the key wickets of India skipper Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli during the morning session. He further applied pressure by sending the in-form Rishabh Pant back to the pavilion in the post-lunch session.

Meanwhile, Nahid Rana (1/80) and spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz (1/77) each picked up a wicket.

Brief Scores:

India: 339 for 6 in 80 overs (Ravichandran Ashwin 102*, Ravindra Jadeja 86*, Yashasvi Jaiswal 56; Hasan Mahmud 4/58).