5 talking points from day 1 of the India-Bangladesh Test match

1. Vijay is still India’s best opener

The Indian skipper was supposed to have been in the form of his life last year. But he is showing us that it’s not simply form - pure class. After his masterclass all through the England series, Bangladesh’s bowlers bore the brunt of Kohli’s confidence on day 1 of the Test.Kohli walked in to a Sachin-esque reception as the crowd cheered Pujara’s dismissal that brought the captain on. He began with a statement of intent - on the very first ball, a power-packed cut off Mehedi Hasan’s straying delivery. Murali Vijay returned to the pavilion leaving Kohli at 34, but the Indian skipper continued on and reached his half-century in 70 balls. Dominating the partnership with his deputy Ajinkya Rahane at the other end, he reached his century - with a thumping shot sending the ball to the midwicket boundary. Kohli will be looking to convert this customary century into a double century when India take the field tomorrow.

Bangladesh’ first day of Test cricket on Indian soil was one they’d like to forget, especially in the field. They really were almost as bad as Pakistan is on bad days. And when the opposition has a batting line-up as strong as India’s, missed chances can cost you a lot.   They had a chance to get Cheteshwar Pujara early when he edged Kamrul Islam Rabbi, and the ball fell short of first slip. It wasn’t short for the keeper though, but Mushfiqur Rahim just didn’t go for it. Then in the 15th over, both Pujara and Vijay edged Mehedi Hasan Miraz. The first edge was a little too far to blame Shakib, who was standing at first slip. But the second one was closer to him, but he was too late to go for the dive. Both the edges went for boundaries. Mehedi Hasan himself was to blame for giving Vijay another reprieve when in the 19th over, when he failed to collect a throw from square leg. Vijay was way too slow with the run, and would have been easily run-out had the throw been collected. 

4. The pitch is a batting paradise

5. Taskin Ahmed can really hit the deck - even on a dead pitch

On a day that the Bangladeshi bowlers would want to forget, Taskin gave them something they might like to remember. He started the day with a wicket in his very first over. And on a pitch that offered nothing in return, he consistently hit the deck hard. His average bowling speed for the day was a good 137.2 kmph. And even though he was taken for runs later in the day when Kohli and Rahane  were running rampant, his was the only performance today that Bangladesh would look back at kindly. Seems like bringing in Courtney Walsh as the bowling coach is working.