NEW DELHI: In the first Test match at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, Bangladesh’s captain Najmul Hossain opted to bowl first, a decision that quickly paid off as the renowned Indian batting lineup faced early challenges. The young right-arm medium pacer Hasan Mahmud was instrumental in this strategy, exploiting the moisture present on the Chepauk pitch under overcast skies.
As Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal took to the crease, they approached their innings with caution. The ball was moving significantly off the seam, creating uncertainty for both batsmen. It wasn’t long before Mahmud struck; he claimed his first wicket on the very first delivery of the sixth over by having Rohit caught at second slip by Shanto.
Mahmud delivered a well-placed ball just outside off stump that seamed away slightly, prompting Rohit to defend with soft hands. Unfortunately for him, his edge flew straight into Shanto’s grasp. Following this dismissal, Shubman Gill entered but could not score any runs during his initial over against Mahmud, who completed a wicket-maiden.
In his next over, Mahmud continued to apply pressure and managed to dismiss Gill as well. He bowled a full delivery down leg-side that Gill attempted to flick away but instead edged it into wicketkeeper Litton Das’s gloves—Gill departed without scoring.
The situation worsened for India when Virat Kohli arrived at bat with his characteristic confidence and flair. Kohli opened his account with a single through deep backward square leg but soon found himself in trouble against Mahmud’s bowling attack. In an attempt to drive another pitched-up delivery outside off stump from Mahmud while playing away from his body, Kohli edged it into Das’s hands and was dismissed for just 6 runs—India now reeling at 34/3 after 9.2 overs.
So who exactly is Hasan Mahmud?
Making his international debut for Bangladesh in 2020, Hasan has quickly established himself as an essential player within limited-overs formats of cricket. Earlier this year in March he made his Test debut against Sri Lanka; thus far this match against India marks only his fourth appearance in Test cricket.
Mahmud is recognized for not only possessing pace and control but also demonstrating impressive swing capabilities particularly suited for white-ball formats of play. His performances have shone brightly during domestic competitions including the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), where he has showcased significant potential as an emerging star within Bangladesh’s fast-bowling arsenal.
His versatility allows him to excel during both powerplay overs and death overs across various formats—a quality that makes him invaluable on any given day of play.
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