NEW DELHI: On the opening day of the first Test in Chennai on Thursday, the hosts found themselves at 176 for six at tea. Yashasvi Jaiswal's patient fifty was an exception, as other Indian top-order batsmen failed the test of character that the Bangladeshi bowlers put them through.
At tea, Ravichandran Ashwin (21) and Ravindra Jadeja (7) were at the crease, as per PTI.
Pacer Hasan Mahmud (4/35) did most of the damage against as Jaiswal hit a solid 56 off 118 balls with nine fours.
With the exception of the occasional challenging moment that is inherent to Test cricket, neither the surface nor the bowlers presented any really difficult obstacles to the Indian batting effort, which was very puzzling.
However, the home team's batters just couldn't get it together, as it seemed more like a lack of focus led to their dismissals.
That was validated by Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant's (39) departure after they combined 62 runs off 99 balls for the fourth wicket.
Pant, who looked fluid in the first session, ended the first half of the left-hander's comeback to Test cricket in 83 minutes with a pathetic heave outside off Mahmud, giving an easy catch to stumper Litton Das.
The most confident batsman for India that day, Jaiswal, reached his fifty off ninety-five balls when he turned Mehidy Hasan Miraz for a single. He continued to look good for several more runs.
However, a sudden surge of adrenaline overrode common judgment, and Jaiswal drove off Nahid Rana right into Shadman Islam at the first sign of trouble.
India were reduced to 144 for six after KL Rahul was dismissed for 16 by off-spinner Mehidy, but Ashwin and Jadeja momentarily stopped the bleeding.
