The opening day of the first Test between India and Bangladesh in Chennai was marked by intense cricketing action and a heated exchange between Indian wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant and his Bangladeshi counterpart, Litton Das. The incident occurred during the 16th over of India’s innings.
India’s return to Test cricket after a six-month hiatus began on a shaky note. The team faced a top-order collapse, with star batsmen Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli all failing to reach double figures. Bangladesh’s young pacer Hasan Mahmud, playing in only his fourth Test, was instrumental in dismantling India’s top order, leaving the hosts reeling at 34-3 within the first hour.
Amidst the early chaos, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant provided some stability, guiding India to 88/3 by lunch. Their partnership was crucial in halting the fall of wickets, but the session was not without its share of drama. During the 16th over, a throw from the field came perilously close to Rishabh Pant, prompting him to confront Litton Das. Caught on the stump mic, Rishabh Pant was heard asking, “Mere ko kyun maar rahe ho (Why are you hitting me?)” The exchange continued with Litton Das responding, though his reply was not clearly audible.
The day, however, belonged to Ravichandran Ashwin, whose counter-attacking century turned the tide for India. After finding themselves in a precarious position at 144-6 during the second session, Ashwin, unbeaten on 102, and Ravindra Jadeja, who scored 86, forged a formidable unbroken partnership of 195 runs. Their efforts propelled India to a respectable 339-6 by the end of the day, rescuing the team from a potential collapse.