Kanpur: While several factors contributed to India’s astonishing victory in the second Test against Bangladesh, skipper Rohit Sharma’s strong message in the dressing room played the biggest role in the series-clinching win. With the match losing 235 overs in the rain-hit first three days, India faced a near-impossible task to get a result out of the encounter. However, the home side bowled out Bangladesh twice in two days and a ruthless batting display sealed an extraordinary win for the Rohit-led side.
Following the series sweep, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who was named the Player of the Series, revealed how Rohit’s dressing room message inspired the win in the most extraordinary circumstances. Ashwin said that Rohit asked his players to play fearless cricket and led by example with the bat in the first innings during which India broke five world records.
After bowling the visitors out for 233 on Day 4, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit decimated the Bangladeshi bowlers to set the tone for the rest of the innings. Indian batters pulverised the visitors’ bowling attack and broke several records en route to 285 for 9d (34.4 overs), taking a first-innings lead of 51 runs.
Resuming Day 5 on 26 for two, Bangladesh were skittled out for 146 in an extended first session. The hosts chased down a 95-run target in 17.2 overs to complete an extraordinary win.
Thanks to the remarkable result, India extended their record of most home series in succession to 18, stretching back to 2013.
Yashasvi Jaiswal was named Player of the Match for hitting fifties in both innings.
“It was a massive win for us in the context of the WTC. When we bowled them out yesterday, it was a little after lunch. Rohit was keen that we needed 80 overs to bowl at them. He said even if we get bowled out for 230, it’s okay. He set the tone with the way he stepped out the first ball,” said Ashwin who picked up two wickets in the first innings and three in the second essay.
India consolidate top spot in WTC table
A 2-0 series whitewash against Bangladesh helped India consolidate their position at the top of the World Test Championship (WTC) standings.
Courtesy of the seven-wicket win, India improved their point percentage to 74.24 and opened up a healthy lead over second-placed Australia, who currently boast a point percentage of 62.50 with eight wins in 12 games. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka are third and England are fourth in the table with 55.56 and 42.19 point percentages, respectively.
Bangladesh slipped to seventh position with 34.38 per cent following the series loss and sit behind South Africa and New Zealand, placed fifth and sixth respectively.
Ravichandran Ashwin has revealed how Rohit Sharma dressing room message inspired the Kanpur Test win in the most extraordinary circumstances. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
