Day 1: Vijay, Kohli tons put India in command against Bangladesh

Hyderabad, Feb 9: India opener Murali Vijay and 'Run Machine' Virat Kohli slammed brilliant hundreds to take hosts to 356/3 at stumps on the first day of the one-off Test against Bangladesh, at Rajiv Gandhi International stadium, here on Thursday (Feb 9).

Another record beckons Kohli; Photos;

Kohli (111 not out) and Ajinkya Rahane (45 not out) are at the crease and the duo will resume hosts' innings on day 2.

Leading from the front, India's charismatic skipper and batting mainstay, Kohli, notched up his sixteenth Test hundred and first against Bangladesh. Kohli has now slammed a ton against seven Test playing nations, he has played so far. The 28-year-old hasn't played a Test against Pakistan and Zimbabwe.

Vijay slams's 9th Test ton:

Before Kohli, Vijay hit a composed hundred off 149 deliveries, which included 11 fours and a six. The right-hander's innings comprised some beautiful strokes which was mixed with aggression and class. It was Vijay's ninth Test hundred.

The Tamil Nadu cricketer, however, couldn't convert his century into a big one after he was dismissed for 108 (160 balls) by Taijul Islam.

Apart from Vijay, the other two wickets India lost were of KL Rahul (2), Cheteshwar Pujara (83). Taijul, Taskin and Mehedi Hasan got one wicket apiece for the visitors.

Mehedi Hasan removes 'well set' Pujara:

Young spinner Mehedi Hasan gave visitors the much needed breakthrough by dismissing well-set Cheteshwar Pujara at 83. Pujara was caught behind the stumps by wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim.

Vijay-Pujara pair's another fine achievement:

Vijay slammed his 14th Test fifty while Pujara completed his 12th half century. The duo once again produced a brilliant 100-run partnership between them. This was the fifth century stand between Vijay and Pujara in this home season - the most by any pair in an Indian season.

Earlier, Pujara and Vijay helped hosts recover from the early loss of KL Rahul. They stitched a partnership of 178 runs for the second wicket.

Lokesh Rahul departs in the first over:

India got off to a disappointing start as opener KL Rahul was bowled by Taskin Ahmed in the very first over of the match at an individual score of 2.

As for the visitors despite an early success, they failed to put any further pressure over Indian batsmen. Bangladesh pacers, however, troubled hosts in the early overs.

Earlier, Indian skipper Virat Kohli won the toss and elected to bat first on a pitch helpful for batsmen.

Karun Nair dropped:

Young Karun Nair, who slammed a brilliant 303* in the previous game, made way for vice captain Ajinkya Rahane in India's Playing XI. Skipper Kohli and coach Anil Kumble had hinted before start of the game that Rahane will be preferred over Nair.

On paper, it is the 'Battle of Unequals' with the world number one taking on the ninth ranked side, but in this game of glorious uncertainties.

For Bangladesh, it is a historic moment as they are playing a Test match on Indian soil for the first time but for the hosts, it will be more about maintaining the momentum they have acquired by winning seven out of the eight matches against comparatively better sides like New Zealand and England.

Playing XIs:

India: Virat Kohli (captain), Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha (wicketkeeper), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma.

Bangladesh: Mushfiqur Rahim (captain, wicketkeeper), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Mominul Haque, Mahmudullah Riyadh, Shakib Al Hasan, Sabbir Rahman, Mehedi Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Kamrul Islam Rabbi.

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