KL Rahul's straightforward dismissal after getting set was disappointing: Zaheer Khan

KL Rahul. (Photo Source: KL Rahul/X/Twitter)

Zaheer Khan called KL Rahul's soft dismissal on Day 1 of the first Test between India and Bangladesh as "disappointing". The Karnataka batter was dismissed by Mehidy Hasan Miraz for 52-ball 16 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on September 19.

KL Rahul walked out to bat after India lost their first four wickets for 96 runs in the second session. He navigated through stormy seas and got himself set at the crease. However, all his hard work was undone when he nudged an innocuous delivery from Mehidy towards Zakir Hasan at forward short-leg.

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Former India pacer Zaheer felt that Rahul should have converted his start into something substantial to bail the hosts out of a precarious situation.

"See, when the team needs you, you'd want to play such a knock that helps your team get out of the troublesome scenario. We have seen in Test matches that when a batter spends some good amount of time on the crease, we call him a 'set' batter. Even with KL Rahul it was the same. He got out of the troubled perioid at the crease, but to get dismissed to an off-spinner in a straightforward manner, that's a bit disappointing," Zaheer told Cricbuzz.

Ashwin, Jadeja help India get out of a hole

When Rahul was dismissed, India were staring down the barrel at 144/6 in te second session. Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin joined forces in a bid to bail India out of trouble. The two experienced campaigners played counter-attacking cricket and disrupted the lines and lengths of the Bangladeshi bowlers.

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The shoulders of the Bangladeshi players started dropping as the day went along. Ashwin went on to slam his sixth Test century, finishing unbeaten on 102 off 112 balls at stumps. Meanwhile, Jadeja scored 86 not out off 117 balls, giving Ashwin great support. Both batters hit 10 fours and two sixes each in their innings. India ended the day at 339/6 after Hasan Mahmud bagged a four-for.

The first session on Day 2 is going to be crucial as Bangladesh would want to end the Indian innings as soon as possible. On the other hand, Indian fans will hope that the Ashwin-Jadeja partnership, which is already 195 runs, continues to wear the opposition out.