India’s star batter, Virat Kohli, fell short of expectations in the first Test against Bangladesh. The match, held at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on September 19, saw Kohli dismissed for just six runs in India’s first innings. His early departure came as a disappointment to fans who were hoping to see the ace batter produce one of his trademark performances.
Bangladesh’s pacers, Taskin Ahmed and Hasan Mahmud, made an immediate impact, troubling Indian batters with their exceptional line and length. Winning the toss and opting to bowl, Bangladesh took full advantage of the bowling-friendly conditions in Chennai. The early movement and bounce on the pitch provided the bowlers with just the assistance they needed to put India on the back foot.
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Within the first hour of play, the Bangladeshi pacers struck crucial blows, picking up three key Indian wickets, including that of Virat Kohli.Kohli’s dismissal came on the second ball of the 10th over, bowled by Hasan Mahmud. Attempting to drive an outside-off delivery away from his body, Kohli edged the ball with hard hands, sending it straight into the gloves of wicketkeeper Litton Das.
This marked India’s third wicket, with the team reeling at 34 runs. Kohli’s eagerness to drive, which is often his strength, became his downfall as the ball moved just enough to induce the edge.
— Kirkit Expert (@expert42983) September 19, 2024
— Kirkit Expert (@expert42983) September 19, 2024
Adding to India’s challenges, left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav was a notable absence from the playing XI. Despite his strong performance in the earlier series against England, captain Rohit Sharma decided on a combination of two spinners and three pacers for the Chennai Test.
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The decision raised eyebrows, as the MA Chidambaram Stadium has historically favored spin. However, the pitch was prepared with a red-soil surface, expected to provide good bounce and assistance for the seamers, possibly influencing the team’s selection strategy.
This selection choice, along with Kohli’s early dismissal, sparked discussions among cricket fans and experts, many of whom questioned whether India had made the right decisions for the match.
