IND vs BAN 2024: Why India's Top Six failed to sail through Bangladesh challenge on Opening Day of Chennai Test?

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IND vs BAN 2024: Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and invited his Indian counterpart Rohit Sharma to bat first in the first Test at Chepauk on Thursday (September 19).

The hosts failed to dictate terms on the opening day as they fell prey to Bangladesh's bowlers. The visitors got the bit between their teeth and gave the hosts a run for their money. Also Read: IND vs BAN: Gautam Gambhir in awe of R Ashwin's 'slap shot'

Meanwhile, India’s top-order collapse raised serious questions about their lack of preparation and inability to adapt to testing conditions. Coming into the series, the Tigers were riding high on surreal confidence after a 2-0 historic whitewash of Pakistan in the away territory. Also Read: Hasan Mahmud Stats in Test Cricket before India vs Bangladesh 1st Test

On the other side of the coin, Team India had not played a Test match since March and it is evident that the lack of recent red-ball action is the reason why the top 6 Indian batters faltered under pressure.

Chepauk Shocker: India's Top Six crumble under Bangladesh's bowling assault

India's highly-anticipated top three batters, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Shubman Gill looked visibly undercooked and with no proper Test match preparation, they struggled to adjust to the conditions. Kohli and Rohit managed to score just 6 runs apiece while Gill was dismissed for a duck.

The trio didn't apply themselves well in the early stages of the innings when it was crucial to dig deep and weather the storm. On the contrary, Bangladesh made excellent use of the overcast conditions and the assistance available from the Chepauk track.

Hasan Mahmud Stuns Indian Stars

Bangladesh's fast bowler Hasan Mahmud stole the spotlight for dismantling India’s top order. Mahmud got rid of Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant, courtesy of his controlled pace and swing bowling. The overcast conditions on Day 1 provided some extra movement, and Mahmud seized the early assistance effectively.

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant Bring Stability But

There were some missed opportunities from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant. Both the left-handers showed glimpses of promise but threw their wickets away at critical moments. 'Mujhe kyu maar rahe ho' - Rishabh Pant argues with Litton Das

Jaiswal got off to a solid start and looked set for a big score after a fifty, while Pant, who returned to Test whites after nearly two years, countered Bangladesh’s bowling well in the early stages.

However, the duo failed to capitalize on their starts, playing loose shots that cost them their wickets. Jaiswal ended up scoring 56 including 9 fours whereas Pant scored 39 (6 fours).

Last but not least, KL Rahul’s dismissal was perhaps the softest of them all as he fell prey to Mehidy Hasan Miraz's delivery. He never looked confident at the crease, and although he navigated as many as 50-plus deliveries, his lack of recent red-ball cricket showed.

His last Test match came in early January against England, and since then, injuries have kept him out of the longest format. He could have avoided his soft dismissal with more match practice under his belt. At the time of writing this article, India posted 178/6 (49 overs), with Ravichandran Ashwin (21) and Ravindra Jadeja (7) at the crease.