In a bold move that caught many off guard, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain made the decision to field first after winning the toss in the first Test against India at Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium. This decision broke a 42-year-old tradition, as it’s common knowledge that the slow, turning track of Chennai heavily favors the team batting first.

The last captain to win the toss and opt for fielding in a Test at this venue was England’s Keith Fletcher in 1982. The match ended in a draw against a formidable Indian side featuring Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, and Ravi Shastri. Fletcher’s move was the first such instance in 90 years of Test cricket in Chennai, and Shanto’s call became only the second in the stadium’s history.

However, India's captain Rohit Sharma revealed that he too would have chosen to field first had he won the toss, hinting at the less spin-friendly conditions this time around. Both sides have loaded their playing XIs with three fast bowlers each, a clear signal of the expected pitch conditions, which include some bounce for the pacers early on.

While Chennai is known for its deteriorating pitches that assist spinners later in the match, the track for this Test match hasn’t been tailor-made for spinners. Hence, Bangladesh's pacers, like their Indian counterparts, found some bounce on the opening day.

With both teams' decisions to focus on pace, and the conditions at play, this Test promises to defy the typical expectations of a spin-dominated Chennai affair.