IND vs BAN: Bangladesh end 42-year toss run in Chennai by fielding first

Bangladesh's decision to field first in the Chennai Test ended a 42-year toss run at the Chepauk. This is the first time in 21 Tests that a team has decided to field first after winning the toss at the iconic stadium.

In Short

• The last time a team field first in Chennai after winning toss was in 1982
• Bangladesh and India are playing 3 pacers each
• Rohit also admitted he would have fielded first had he won the toss

Bangladesh ended a 42-year run in Chennai when they decided to field first at the Chepauk after winning the toss in the first Test against India on Thursday, September 19. The visitors only became the second team in the history of Tests in Chennai to have opted field first after winning the toss. Chepauk is always known to be a ground where a team usually wins the toss and opts to bat first.

The last time this happened was in 1982 when England and India locked horns at the Chepauk. The visitors had won the toss on the day and they opted to field first. India had scored 481 runs in their first innings on the back of Gundappa Viswanath's 222 and Yashpal Sharma's 140. In response, England were bundled out for 328 runs as Dilip Doshi picked up 4 wickets. India would declare after scoring 160 runs in the second innings as the match ended in a draw.

IND vs BAN 1st Test, Day 1: Live Updates

Bangladesh captain Najimul Shanto explained why he wanted to bowl first as there was moisture on the wicket and they wanted to make use of it. Shanto feels that the first session would be one that will be very good for the seamers.

"I'll like to bowl first. There's moisture on the wicket and we want to make use of it. Pitch looks hard and there's moisture. The first session will be very good for the seamers," said Shanto.

Rohit Sharma would also admit that he would have opted to bowl first had he won the toss.

"I would have done that as well (bowl first). Little soft, the pitch. It's going to be challenging conditions," said Rohit.

India vs Bangladesh: Playing XI

Both teams have decided to go with 3 pacers for the match, something that is usually not seen at the Chepauk. The ground is known to be a spinners' paradise. India have Akash Deep as the extra pacer while Bangladesh have Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud and Nahid Rana in their ranks.

Bangladesh (Playing XI): Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto(c), Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das(w), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana

India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma(c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj