India are currently taking on Bangladesh in the first game of the two-match Test Series at the MA Chidambaam Stadium in Chennai. While the home tea stuttered for the first few hours on Day 1, they have taken the upper hand since then. In fact, Team India showed their dominance with the bat in the latter half of the innings, before the bowlers weaved their magic around the Bangladeshi batters, as they had a lead of 227 runs when the visitors were all out for 149. However, India did not enforce a follow-on.
When a team batting in the second innings of a Test Match fails to trail by 200 or less amount of tuns, then the opponents can enforce a follow-on on them, meaning that they would have to come out to bat again in the third innings. India, however, did not take this option.
Why India Did Not Enforce Follow-On Against Bangladesh
India have a long Test season in the coming few months till January, where they will play 9 more games to strengthen their position to reach the final of the World Test Championship for the third consecutive time in 2025. Hence, they need to keep their players, and especially their bowlers fit. It could be possible that India decided to avoid enforcing the follow-on to give their bowlers and fielders a rest, especially in the hot and humid conditions of Chennai.
On the other hand, India could also have taken this decision to pile on more runs in the third innings, and give Bangladesh a stiff target to chase. The bowlers could then manage to take quick wickets as the scoreboard pressure will pile up on the minds of the Bangladeshi batters in the 4th innings.
R Ashwin Slams Century, Bumrah Scalps 4
It was Bangladesh who won the toss and decided to bowl first as the match. India were reduced to 144/6 on Day 1, with only Yashasvi Jaiswal showing some resistance with a half-century. It was then the Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja show as the duo put on 199 runs for the 7th wicket. Jadeja got out on 86, but Ashwin went on to slam 113, his 6th Test century. India were all out for 376 in the first innings.
The Indian bowlers have breathed fire in the second innings as Bangladesh were bundled out for 149. Jasprit Bumrah has led the charge with 4 wickets, while Akash Deep, Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Siraj scalped two wickets each.