India achieved a clean sweep against Bangladesh, winning the second Test by seven wickets in a commanding performance in Kanpur.
India’s triumph was their 18th straight series win at home, and it strengthened their lead in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) rankings with 74.24 percentage points.
In the second Test, India crushed the visitors by seven wickets, with Ravichandran Ashwin taking the first blood, Ravindra Jadeja taking the heart out, and Jasprit Bumrah putting the final nail in the coffin of Bangladesh.
India defeated Bangladesh by seven wickets in the second Test to secure a record-tying 18th series triumph at home in Kanpur on Tuesday. Ravichandran Ashwin drew first blood, Ravindra Jadeja tore the heart out, and Jasprit Bumrah drove the final nail in the coffin of Bangladesh.
Despite losing more than 200 overs of play and experiencing two days of total wash-out, the Indian team put up one of their most thrilling performances ever. India’s dominance in the ICC World Test Championship Table (WTC) with 74.24 percentage points was solidified by the decisive win.
Bangladesh resumed day 26 for two, but it took a determined comeback on the last day to preserve a draw, as they fell to 146. The majority of the wickets were shared by Bumrah (3/17 in 10 overs), Ravichandran Ashwin (3/50 in 15 overs), and Ravindra Jadeja (3/34 in 10 overs).
With ‘Player of the Match’ Yashasvi Jaiswal (51) hitting his second fifty of the game, India reached the necessary 95 runs in 17.2 overs.
The only hitters for Bangladesh who put up any resistance were opener Shadman Islam (50) and former captain Mushfiqur Rahim (37), while other batters gave in to constant pressure from the home bowlers following a superb batting display to tie the game.
The most disappointing thing was that Najmul Hossain Shanto, the captain of Bangladesh, opened the floodgates with a careless reverse sweep off Jadeja.
Following the dismissal of Mominul Haque, the first innings centurion, by Ashwin in the opening few minutes, Jadeja’s explosive performance broke the back of Bangladesh’s middle-order, and Bumrah’s sharp bowling, which claimed three wickets, also contributed to the victory.
India, down 52 runs in the first innings, needed 17.2 overs to reach the target of 95 runs after off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz claimed the wickets of Rohit Sharma (8) and Shubhman Gill (6).
For the third wicket, Jaiswal and Virat Kohli (29 not out) put up a 58-run partnership.
Similar to the opening over, Rohit and Jaiswal pursued the Bangladeshi bowlers while the captain of the home team was removed early as his sweep off Miraz found its way directly into Hasan Mahmud’s hands.
Miraz also managed to trap Shubman Gill.
Along with Jaiswal, who batted with maturity to finish his second consecutive half-century, Kohli worked the ball around to go steady. Jaiswal pursued Taijul Islam with three runs needed to win, and he ultimately gave Shakib a catch at extra cover.
With a boundary off Taijul, Rishabh Pant (4) put the game away in spectacular fashion.
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India has not dropped a Test match against Bangladesh, and the fact that they emerged victorious in just six sessions after being deprived of two full days of play due to inclement weather says volumes about the disparity between the two sides.
Bangladesh lost overnight batsman and first-inning centurion Mominul to Ashwin shortly after the crucial day began at 26 for two, but Shadman (50 off 101) kept one end tight with his hard-hitting performance that featured ten boundaries.
Shanto (19 off 37) ruined the excellent work after Shadman and his captain put up a 55-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
He attempted a reverse sweep on Jadeja but missed the bowling line. Shadman was apprehended by Jaiswal in the gully by Pacer Akash.
Bangladesh’s batting collapsed after Shadman was removed, as Jadeja proved to be too hot for the visitors to handle. The left-arm spinner broke the back of Bangladesh’s middle-order with his dismissals of Shanto, Litton Das (1), and Shakib Al Hasan (0).
In what was likely the final innings of his Test career, Shakib was unable to even access his own account. His feeble attempt at defending went straight back to Jadeja, and Das stole a wicket behind the wicket.
To add even more pain to Bangladesh, Bumrah then fired Taijul Islam (0) and Miraz (9). After tidying up Rahim (37), he ended Bangladesh’s innings.
With confidence, Shadman maneuvered around the Indian bowlers. Mominul did not survive long, though, as he drove Bumrah and swept Ashwin with authority.
While sweeping Ashwin, the ball bounced somewhat more off KL Rahul’s body, resulting in a leg-slip catch.
Rival captain Shanto came to the bat after Aswhin’s third wicket. Shanto took a long to calm down and remained reticent.
Shadman, though, made a strong batting effort. He was not scared to utilize his feet against the off-spinner and had a tidy defence against Ashwin. To keep the scoreboard ticking, he rotated the strike and continued to locate limits.
Mohammed Siraj was called into the attack by Rohit, and he nearly had Shanto, but the Bangladesh captain’s edge soared to the boundary through the empty space between the second and gully.
Shadman did a good job of handling the Siraj task. When the pacer pitched full while bowling from around the wicket, he slapped a widish one from him to the fence and also drove through the covers. After turning fifty, he left not long after.