India vs Bangladesh: Homeboy Ashwin rescues after wobbles in top order | Cricket

Ashwin, along with Jadeja, reached an unbroken stand of 195 runs after India had fallen to 144-6 on the first day of the first Test.

India's Ravichandran Ashwin scored a quick century and partnered Ravindra Jadeja in an epic rearguard action that helped the hosts overcome a collapse in the upper order to post a score of 339 for six on the opening day of the first Test match against Bangladesh.

Bangladesh seamer Hasan Mahmud's three-wicket haul in the morning session left India reeling at 34-3 within the first hour at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal scored 56, but it was the unbroken marathon stand of 195 runs for the seventh wicket between Ashwin and Jadeja that helped India claw their way back into the contest.

Ashwin's unbeaten 102 off 112 balls, his sixth Test hundred, included 10 fours and two sixes. Jadeja, batting on 86, was closing in on his fifth Test hundred.

“When you chase the ball with a little bit of spice on a surface like this, you can chase it really hard…” said Ashwin.

“It’s the old Chennai surface with some bounce and carry, and the red surface allows you to play some shots.

“If you're willing to just fall in line … and give the ball a little momentum, that really helps.”

Bangladesh are in top form following their 2-0 series win over Pakistan earlier this month and dominated the first two training sessions after captain Najmul Hossain Shanto opted to field.

Home captain Rohit Sharma (six) took 11 balls to take the lead, surviving a loud LBW appeal before pushing Hasan to Shanto at second slip.

In his next over, Hasan Shubman had Gill caught behind him and the ball dropped down the leg side.

Virat Kohli was also easily dismissed when he bounced off his body and was caught behind for six yards.

But neither the difficult conditions nor the departing partners could unsettle Jaiswal, and the opening game featured beautiful drives and exquisite flicks.

Rishabh Pant (39), playing his first Test since a horrific car accident in December 2022, cut and pulled fearlessly and scored points at a brisk pace to rebuild the pressure on the bowlers.

Hasan broke the 62-run stand soon after the lunch break when Pant's lazy floater after a delivery well outside the off-stump led to another easy dismissal.

Nahid Rana ended Jaiswal's fluid knock and spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz removed KL Rahul before Ashwin combined with Jadeja to launch a spectacular counter-attack.