India Crush Bangladesh with Dominant 280-Run Victory in Series Opener
India Crush Bangladesh with Dominant 280-Run Victory in Series Opener: India wasted no time in asserting their dominance over Bangladesh, securing a comprehensive 280-run victory in just over three days during the first test match of their series on Sunday. The result reaffirms India’s formidable status on home soil, where they have not lost a test series since 2012, maintaining an enviable record that includes just four defeats over the last decade.
Bangladesh entered the match with confidence, fresh from a 2-0 series sweep over Pakistan earlier this month. However, they quickly realized the enormity of the challenge as they faced an Indian team that has never lost to them in their previous 13 encounters. Winning a test series in India remains one of the toughest tasks in cricket, a challenge Bangladesh experienced firsthand in this humbling defeat.
India, sitting atop the World Test Championship (WTC) standings and fresh off a runner-up finish in the WTC finals, further solidified their status as one of the most dominant teams in world cricket. Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, India got their new test season off to a powerful start, with upcoming series against New Zealand and Australia looming on the horizon.
Despite the months-long break from test cricket, India showed little rust. The only moment of concern came when the Indian top order stumbled on a tricky red-soil surface at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, leaving the team at a precarious 34-3.
While India’s spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja were expected to shine with the ball, few anticipated their game-changing partnership with the bat. Their crucial 199-run stand for the seventh wicket rescued India from a tight spot and pushed them to a commanding first-innings total of 376. This monumental effort put India firmly in control of the match.
India’s second innings saw further heroics as wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant marked his return to test cricket with a thrilling century. Shubman Gill, who had suffered a first-innings duck, made amends with a flawless unbeaten hundred, helping set an insurmountable target for the visitors.
In response, Bangladesh’s batting lineup faltered under the pressure of India’s potent attack. Their first innings ended with a disappointing 149, while their second attempt saw them muster a slightly improved 234. Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto stood out with a valiant 82, but his efforts proved to be in vain as the rest of the team failed to offer significant resistance.
Shanto has called on his side to deliver a better batting performance in the second and final test in Kanpur, but praised the efforts of their pace attack, particularly Hasan Mahmud, Taskin Ahmed, and Nahid Rana. The trio showed promise, but the lack of support from the batting lineup proved too much to overcome.
India’s bowlers were clinical, with spinners Ashwin and Jadeja predictably doing most of the damage on the turning track. Their mastery on home pitches remains one of the key reasons for India’s decade-long unbeaten streak in test series at home.
As the teams prepare for the next test in Kanpur, Bangladesh will be looking to regroup and improve on their performance. India, on the other hand, will aim to maintain their momentum as they continue their march toward another World Test Championship final.
This resounding win has set the tone for what promises to be an exciting home season for India, with more challenges ahead against top-tier teams like New Zealand and Australia.
