Kanpur: Not even the Indian team management would have thought of being in a position to get a result after witnessing two washout days and just 35 overs of play across three days at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur. After a gloomy couple of days, clear skies and bright sunshine brought good news for the fans, who have had to deal with frustration and disappointment due to inclement weather and poor ground facilities.
As a matter of fact, ahead of the start of play on Day 4, more than the match, the pre-match talks were centred around the poor planning of the Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) and the outdated infrastructure of Green Park.
On a Monday morning, unsurprisingly, not many were present to witness the dead rubber in the making even if it meant the end of a long wait for live cricket action.
But that changed very quickly. As Jasprit Bumrah opened the floodgates by castling Mushfiqur Rahim, known for his dogged resistance, spectators started to fill the stadium. India picked up seven wickets for 98 runs to bundle the visitors out for 233 in just over a session and gave themselves a slight chance to force the result.
But no one was ready for what was about to come.
Bowlers ignite the spark for batters to unleash mayhem
While an aggressive Indian batting start was expected, no one would have imagined the carnage that was about to be unleashed in Kanpur. Yashasvi Jaiswal made his intentions clear with three boundaries in the opening over bowled by Hasan Mahmud, Bangladesh’s most successful bowler in the first Test at Chennai. Rohit Sharma smashed his first ball for a six and then dispatched Khaled Ahmed over mid-wicket on the very next ball to announce his arrival at the crease.
In no time, India raced to the 50-run mark, reaching the milestone in record time (3 overs). Even after Rohit’s dismissal, the fireworks continued as Shubman Gill (39) and Jaiswal added 72 runs in just 63 balls, giving no respite to the Bangladeshi bowlers, who were left stunned in disbelief.
As the news of India’s incredible onslaught spread across the city, fans flooded the stadium to watch the Indian batters, who had transformed into white-ball beasts, feasting on the hapless visitors.
Team India did everything possible to get the result. Everyone seemed on the same page, playing for the same cause, without worrying about their milestones or wickets.
If the opening partnership was akin to slam-bang T20 action, the partnership between Virat Kohli and KL Rahul was reminiscent of that of One-Day innings. The 87-run partnership (57 balls) between Kohli (47) and Rahul (68) was laced with some sensational strokeplay and smart running between the wickets. Mixing caution with aggression expertly, the pair hit big shots and rotated the strike. In simple words, Kohli and Rahul toyed with Bangladeshi bowlers.
During a breathtaking innings of 285 for 9 that lasted 34.4 overs, India broke a plethora of records including becoming the fastest to 50, 100, 150, 200, & 250 in men’s Test cricket history – all in one day – among several other landmarks and milestones.
India go berserk in the hunt for the WTC final spot
After Sri Lanka’s clean sweep against New Zealand and the Kanpur Test heading for a draw, India were left in a precarious position on Sunday. A draw would mean that India have to beat New Zealand 3-0 at home and at least two matches on the Australia tour to qualify for the World Test Championship final.
However, India WTC’s final spot chance would get a massive boost in case of a victory in Kanpur as they would require three wins for a guaranteed qualification, out of the remaining eight games.
Knowing the importance of a win in Kanpur, Indian batters created an opportunity for themselves from a small opening and despite the loss of 235 overs of play, have made the impossible possible by putting themselves in a position to win in what would be one of the most remarkable Test matches in the history of cricket.
After an enthralling day of box office Test cricket, which more than made up for the two days lost to rain, ground issues and a wet outfield, Bangladesh are 26 for 2 in 11 overs, still trailing by 26 runs. India, on the other hand, hunting for the last eight wickets, would be on the prowl against the Bangla Tigers, on what is expected to be a sunny fifth and final day at Green Park.
IND vs BAN: Thanks to the Team India batters, Green Park witnessed a day of Box Office Test cricket, which more than made up for the two days lost to rain, ground issues and a wet outfield. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
