Bangladesh struck thrice in the post-Lunch session © AFP
Hasan Mahmud led Bangladesh's fine bowling performance in helpful conditions as they chipped away regularly to ensure India's batting didn't fire in the first two sessions of the opening Test in Chennai. Although Yashasvi Jaiswal (56) was involved in good partnerships with Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul, Bangladesh sustained the pressure and reaped the rewards as they left India at 176/6 at Tea on Day 1. Bangladesh's bowlers kept it tight, conceding only 88 runs in each of the sessions, although their over rates weren't impressive as they bowled only 23 in the first and 25 in the second.

After a good recovery in the second half of the first session, India suffered another setback soon after Lunch as Mahmud bagged his fourth wicket by dismissing Pant for 39. After playing a cut shot for a four, India's wicketkeeper-batter attempted another but was late as he got an underedge which ended the fourth wicket stand worth 62. Jaiswal walked down the track to Mahmud to score a boundary that helped India past 100 but he was also beaten outside off twice in an over by Mahmud. KL Rahul got his first four with a classy on-drive off Nahid Rana and there were also some boundaries via extras as the bowlers erred on a few occasions.

The pitch still offered assistance to the pacers and there was also a bit more pace as Taskin went past Jaiswal's outside edge. But the left-hander didn't miss out on scoring opportunities as he crunched a cover drive for a four off Taskin en route to his eighth fifty plus score. Rahul batted watchfully at the other end and was selective with his shot-making as he helped build a steady partnership with Jaiswal. The stand, however, ended two short of fifty as Jaiswal push at a short of length delivery from Rana and edged it to first slip. Rahul fell soon after, with Zakir Hasan holding on to a good catch at short leg off Mehidy Hasan Miraz's bowling.

Ashwin and Jadeja struck a few boundaries as they helped India past 150. Mahumd found the outside edge of Ashwin's bat in the final over before Tea but the ball went in through the vacant third slip region for a four. Ashwin and Jadeja extended their partnership to 32 before the break.

Earlier, after Bangladesh opted to bowl, Taskin Ahmed went past Jaiswal's outside edge a couple of times early in the first session, and also got one to nip back into Rohit Sharma. The Indian captain narrowly survived a review after being struck on the pad by Mahmud, saved by the umpire's call. With moisture in the pitch aiding the seamers, Rohit and Jaiswal were consistently tested but managed a few boundaries to relieve some pressure. The partnership, however, ended when Mahmud got Rohit to edge one to second slip. India were in more trouble, reduced to 34/3, as Gill fell for an 8-ball duck, caught down the leg side, and Virat Kohli got an outside edge to depart, with Mahmud doing all the damage.

First-change bowler Rana posed a fresh challenge with his pace and bounce, but Pant, back in Test cricket after nearly two years, found his rhythm with a boundary over backward point. In a long spell, Mahmud continued to test the batters, though Jaiswal capitalized on a rare loose delivery to bring up India's 50. Rana's pace was to Pant's liking as he struck a couple of boundaries and put on a good stand with Jaiswal. The opener took on Mehidy in his first over for two fours before Pant had a couple of nervous moments. He hit a short ball from Taskin which landed short of the fielder before getting an outside edge off the same bowler but the ball landed short of first slip, where Shadman Islam reacted late. The ball went to the boundary to bring up the half-century stand.

Brief scores: India 176/6 (Yashasvi Jaiswal 56, Rishabh Pant 39; Hasan Mahmud 4-35) vs Bangladesh.