New Delhi: After three days of gloomy weather and shocking mismanagement at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur, there were little hopes of a revival as India stared at potentially losing crucial points which could have proven costly in their bid to make it to their third consecutive World Test Championship (WTC) final. But just when the rain-marred clash appeared to be turning into a dead rubber, India’s stupendous batting and exceptional bowling helped them pull off an unlikely but historic 7-wicket victory in the 2nd Test against Bangladesh to clean sweep the two-match series 2-0.
As gloomy clouds made way for the sun to shine bright on what was expected to be another regular Monday morning, India headed into the game with clear intent to force a result in whatever time they had in hand. Kanpur’s reputation as one of India’s oldest Test centres was at stake with not many expecting an outcome after only 35 overs of action on the first three days.
However, Rohit Sharma’s men had other plans as they made the most of the time in hand to turn the game on its head in a single day of play. Jasprit Bumrah led from the front with a three-wicket haul as Bangladesh were skittled out for 233 runs despite a brave ton from Mominul Haque, who slammed an unbeaten 107 and fought like a lone warrior for the visitors.
233 seemed enough as a result was a far-fetched dream, let alone in the favour of India. However, little did Najmul Hossain Shanto’s men what was to hit them as India geared up for their first innings in the rain-affected encounter. The intent was clear from ball one as Indian batters went hammer and tongs to produce one of the most sensational Test innings witnessed in recent times.
Indian batters make a mockery of Bangladesh
Not that India’s attacking intent was clear during their superb bowling effort in Bangladesh’s first innings on Day 5, but the batters made it even more obvious with a stunning onslaught. Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal slammed a hat-trick of fours in the very first over from pacer Hasan Mahmud to make his intentions clear before his opening partner and Indian skipper Rohit followed suit.
Rohit looked in no-mercy mode as he charged down against Khaled Ahmed on the very first ball from the pacer to dispatch him for a six. However, that was not it as Rohit smashed the next ball for another six to give India exactly the kind of start they wanted in order to force a result after nearly two and a half days of no action.
Jaiswal ended the 2nd over from Khaled with a boundary with India getting 17 runs from it as Bangladesh came to terms with what the hosts were thinking of. However, it was too late by then as Rohit continued his onslaught with another six against Hasan in the 3rd over. Jaiswal capitalised on the disrupted rhythm of the pacer and ended the over emphatically once again with a six and consecutive fours.
Before Bangladesh could bat an eye, India had raced to 50 off just 3 overs, the fastest-ever by any team in the history of Test cricket. Rohit departed soon after playing a quick hand of 23 off just 11 balls but the captain set the tone for the rest of the Indian batters, sending a clear message about what he wanted from his team.
There was no looking back for India after the start from Rohit and Jaiswal as others ensured they continued at the same tempo. It was Bazball on steroids from India as Jaiswal continued the onslaught along with Shubman Gill with the duo adding 72 runs in just 53 balls for the 2nd wicket. Gill was still cautious in his 39 off 36 balls but there was no stopping Jaiswal, who ended up smashing a brilliant 72 off 51 balls laced with 12 fours and 2 sixes.
After Gill and Jaiswal, it was the experienced duo of Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, who took charge and mixed caution with aggression to help India comfortably overhaul Bangladesh’s first innings total of 233 runs. Kohli scored a sedate 47 off 35 while Rahul looked in fluent touch en route his magnificent 68 off 43 ballas as the duo shared a 87-run stand for the 5th wicket.
Even tail-ender Akash Deep had no qualms bashing the Bangladesh bowlers as he clubbed two sixes after coming out to bat at no.9 to help the hosts declare at 285/9 in just 34.4 overs. It was the fastest 250 by any team in Test cricket as India became the first side to declare a Test innings in less than 35 overs in the 21st century.
India’s stupendous batting was the turning point in the game as it infused life into a Test match that seemed destined to be a dead rubber after the loss of more than 200 overs on the first three days combined due to poor weather. The batters put India into the driver’s seat at the end of their first innings and also gave the hosts just enough time to reduce Bangladesh to 2/26 in their second innings after attaining a crucial 52-run lead.
Indian bowlers deliver on crucial Day 5
If it was the dominant batting effort on Day 4, it was India’s stellar bowling effort on the crucial Day 5 on Tuesday which took the game away from Bangladesh completely. Resuming their second innings from 26/2, opener Shadman Islam steered Bangladesh into a strong position with a brilliant half-century.
However, wickets kept tumbling on the other end, increasing the pressure on the left-hander, who eventually succumbed after a well-made 50 off 101 balls in the 29th over. Bangladesh were 91/3 at one stage but were soon reduced to tatters as 94/7 as they lost 4 wickets in a span of just 6 overs with Ravindra Jadeja running riot with the ball.
Jadeja picked up a three-wicket haul to finish with figures of 3/34 while Bumrah and R Ashwin too picked up three wickets apiece as Bangladesh were bowled out for a low-key 146 runs in their second innings. The visitors suffered a dramatic batting collapse as their batting threw wickets left right and centre owing to some poor shot selections and brain fade moments.
India had a cakewalk in their second innings post Lunch as they chased down the target of 95 runs in just 17.2 overs with 7 wickets to spare to register an emphatic victory. With the win, India not only clean swept the series 2-0 but also gained important points to remain on the top of the World Test Championship (WTC) points table.
India bowled exceptionaly well and batted even batter to breathe life into what appeared to be a lifeless dead-rubber Test match in Kanpur to pull off one of their most famous victories against Bangladesh. After only 35 overs of action on the first three days of the Test match, India forced a result inside just 5 sessions on the last two days. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
