IND vs BAN, 1st Test: Hasan Mahmud steals the show in opening exchanges at Chepauk

Hasan Mahmud dismissed Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, and Rishabh Pant (BCCI Photo)

Back in November last year, before Bangladesh’s tour of New Zealand, Bangladesh coach Chandika Hathurusinghe and captain Najmul Hossain Shanto took Hasan Mahmud aside after a training session and gave him a piece of their mind. The allegation against the fast bowler was that he was lethargic, and not putting in his best efforts in fielding. Mahmud was told in no uncertain terms that unless there was an improvement, he would be out of the team’s white-ball set-up.

Mahmud didn’t play the T20Is in New Zealand, but he turned up in the ODIs and leaked runs. In two matches, he took just two wickets at an average of 42.50. The 24-year-old’s white-ball career hit a road bump. He wasn’t picked for the T20 World Cup either. Tanzim Hasan Sakib was chosen instead.

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Mahmud’s Test debut, too, happened by chance, against Sri Lanka earlier this year. The team management was grooming a younger fast bowler, Musfik Hasan, for the series. But he picked up an injury and the door opened for Mahmud. He took four wickets in the second innings and returned with a six-wicket match haul on his debut.

But the Pakistan series was where Mahmud rose to real prominence, claiming eight wickets in two Tests at an average of 24.12. He contributed handsomely to Bangladesh’s historic 2-0 series win.

As Bangladesh won the toss and chose to field in the first Test against India at Chepauk on Thursday, it was imperative from the tourists’ point of view to win the first session. Thanks to Mahmud, they did it. He dismissed Rohit Sharma with a delivery that came in with the angle and then moved away to take the outside edge. Shubman Gill clipped one down the leg side. Virat Kohli was lured into a drive outside off. Mahmud had bowled it a touch shorter, and the ball held its line after pitching. Kohli was out caught behind.

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Rishabh Pant, on his comeback to Test cricket, was scoring runs briskly. Sensing danger, Shanto brought Mahmud back into the attack after lunch and the latter delivered. A shortish delivery took the toe end of the bat and went to the ‘keeper. Pant returned to the pavilion, while the seamer celebrated. He was mean and moved the ball both ways. Mahmud broke the back of Indian batting.

The boy from Laxmipur, Chattogram, who first made an impression at the 2018 U-19 World Cup by claiming nine wickets from six matches, took the rap on the knuckles from his coach and captain in a positive way. By day’s end in Chennai, he had eye-catching figures of 4/58. He is steadily cementing his place in the Bangladesh Test side.