File photo of Jayden Seales© Twitter

File photo of Rishabh Pant.© BCCI

Virat Kohli fell cheaply against Bangladesh in 2nd innings of Chepauk Test© BCCI/Sportzpics

India’s seasoned spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was unable to pick between his century against England in 2021 and his latest hundred against Bangladesh in Chennai at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. It was the same venue in 2021 against England when Ashwin dug deep and turned the tides in India’s favour with his 106 off 148 deliveries. Three years later, when Bangladesh managed to reduce India to 144/6, Ashwin took the mantle of putting runs on the board alongside Ravindra Jadeja.

His 113 set the tone of the opening Test and allowed India to exude control on a benign surface in Chennai. After the end of the second day’s play, Ashwin was unable to pick which century he liked better out of the two.

“Both. [The England Test] had so much riding on it. We lost the first one and came to the second. Last time, when I played at Chennai, I felt like I was making sort of a comeback in more than one way. I was a little here and there. I went to Australia and came back here. That was different, and I enjoyed it,” Ashwin said at the end of the second day, as quoted from ESPNcricifo.

“I think my batting has come along a lot better since that particular game. I worked quite a lot on how I can maximise my shots, maximise my game. I worked on how I can play fast bowling and all that sort of stuff. I’m glad it’s coming out nicely,” he added.

The 38-year-old relied on the experience that he has gained over his illustrious career to pull India out of a tricky situation. He stayed on the crease, took his time, but scored runs as he was aware of everything that was on offer from the first delivery.

“At this stage, I am able to sequence that and split both of them and see as a cricketer. So, when I walked there [to bat], the only thing I wanted to do was settle down my game. The mind can play tricks because I am a bowler who plays on 12, 18, and 24 balls ahead when I am sequencing it. As a batter, I shouldn’t do that. I just use my experience when I get in. So, now it’s more about just focussing on the ball and hitting it as I see it,” Ashwin said.

Apart from Ashwin and Jadeja’s heroics, India dictated the flow of play by putting in their pacers to great effect. Jasprit Bumrah (four), Akash Deep (two) and Mohammed Siraj (two) combined to pick eight wickets, forcing Bangladesh to fold on 149. India came out to bat once again and ended the day with a massive lead of 308 runs.

For the last one month, Bangladesh is on a mission to reverse a long-standing trend of left-arm spinners leading their bowling. Two beanpole quicks are at the forefront of that changing of baton – Hasan Mahmud and Nahid Rana. They arrived on these shores after a sensational effort against Pakistan, but India could be a daunting destination even for the more experienced ones. But on the opening day of the first Test against India here on Thursday, Mahmud (4/58) and Rana (1/80) justified the hype around them, rather contrastingly.

Mahmud owns lively pace but banks more on an exemplary seam position and other variations to make an impact, whereas Rana is the battering ram, looking to unsettle the batters with raw pace.

It was evident in their respective approach at Chepauk.

But Mahmud was more successful this day, taking four wickets – Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant – a list that still remains a dream even for the more reputed names.

Rana hustled Indians occasionally. He hurried Yashasvi Jaiswal with a 148 kmph corker, forcing the opener to edge it to the cordon.

But this silent revolution in Bangladesh cricket is more carefully planned than organic.

“Look at Nahid and Mahmud, we were trying to find some genuine fast bowlers for sometime now. I am not belittling spinners, who have done great work for our country.

“But if you need to be a successful cricketing nation across the world, you need world-class fast bowlers, like when we go to England or Australia,” Alamgir Kabir, a former Bangladesh pacer who is a mentor to both Mahmud and Rana, told PTI.

Kabir underlined the role of a robust grassroot level system in Bangladesh in this new rush of quality pacers.

“I will not call it perfect or anything, but we have a strong grassroot system where coaches and talent spotters are committed to what they do. There are a lot of talented kids around Bangladesh playing tape-ball and tennis ball cricket, who need the right kind of encouragement at the right time.

“Take the case of Nahid, he is coming from tape ball cricket. I found him and took to my academy and give training. It’s like polishing a diamond,” said Kabir, who is now a coach at the Clemons Cricket Academy in Dhaka.

But Sridharan Sriram, the former India batter who coached Bangladesh in the past, had a word of caution for the tyros.

“They are talented for sure, and are doing well at present. But the challenge for them is to sustain this journey and grow into the role. It is not easy. Hopefully, there will be right advice and support for them,” Sriram told PTI.

Sriram was impressed by Mahmud’s outing as well.

“Four wickets…yeah, he did well. He showed good acumen to exploit the favourable conditions in the morning. I haven’t worked with them a lot, but this Bangladesh team looks a good mixture of youth and experience. Hopefully, the young cricketers will remain on course,” said Sriram.

Kabir has little doubt about the focus of these young players.

“They are all very motivated. Recently, there was some unrest in the country and these kids were playing cricket in Pakistan.

“Obviously, they were concerned, but showed good maturity to focus on cricket once they entered the field and after the match they will call and ask for updates (about the turbulence). The result is there for all to see -a 2-0 win over Pakistan,” he added.

Bangladesh pacers have also been fortunate to have come under the tutelage of South African great Allan Donald and former West Indian pacer Otis Gibson.

They opened a whole new perspective about bowling, particularly about pace bowling, to upcoming Bangladesh bowlers.

“Look, I think Mashrafe (Mortaza) was the first pacer of some reputation to come from Bangladesh then Taskin (Ahmed) followed. But now, we have a good bunch – Shoriful Islam, Ebadot Hossain etc, who will take our bowling forward,” said Kabir.

But the rise of these new crop of pacers is gradually changing the image around Bangladesh bowling unit.

Head coach Chandika Hathurusingha explained it.

“The point of difference is the fear factor. When a bowler comes up to 150 kph, it is human nature (to get afraid).

“We have a certain reaction time. So, it challenges your reaction time and decision making. You can bring that fear factor into the opposition,” said Hathurusingha.

The wheels of change have been set in motion and Bangladesh needs to ensure that it keeps rolling.