IND vs BAN, 1st Test: Ashwin’s All-Round Brilliance Powers India to 280-Run Win, 1-0 Series Lead

Chennai: R Ashwin’s all-round brilliance propelled India to a 280-run win and an unbeatable 1-0 series lead against Bangladesh on the fourth morning of the 1st Test in Chennai. Ashwin completed his fourth career double of a century and a five-wicket haul in the same Test match — his second consecutive at Chepauk.

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto resisted India’s bowling attack for the first hour, partnering with Shakib Al Hasan. However, Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja broke through the resistance in the second hour. Ashwin’s 37th five-wicket haul brought him level with the legendary Shane Warne on the all-time list, second only to Muthiah Muralidaran.

India, needing six wickets to win, had to work hard initially, with Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah bowling testing spells. Siraj particularly troubled Shanto but couldn’t break through in the first hour.

The breakthrough came when Ashwin trapped Shakib, who misjudged the drift and fell to a good catch by Yashasvi Jaiswal at short leg. This wicket moved Ashwin past Courtney Walsh’s 519 wickets, placing him eighth on the all-time list. Jadeja soon followed up by dismissing Litton Das, and Ashwin wrapped up his five-wicket haul with the help of a catch by Jadeja off Mehidy Hasan Miraz.

Shanto, attempting to farm the strike, fell to Jadeja, bringing an end to Bangladesh’s resistance. Jadeja claimed a third wicket shortly after, as India wrapped up a dominant victory.

Brief Scores: India 376 (Ashwin 113, Jadeja 86; Mahmud 5-83) and 287 for 4 dec (Gill 119*, Pant 109; Mehidy 2-103) beat Bangladesh 149 (Shakib 32; Bumrah 4-50, Jadeja 2-19) and 234 (Shanto 82; Ashwin 6-88, Jadeja 3-58) by 280 runs.