Meek top-order leaves India vulnerable against Bangladesh
Since the series defeat to England at home ten years ago, India have been so dominant in subcontinental conditions that they have lost a mere three and won 40 out of the 50 Tests they have played in the region. And as they reduced Bangladesh to effectively 26 for 6 in their second innings in Dhaka, yet another straightforward series win appeared to be around the corner.
But Litton Das, along with the plucky Nurul Hasan and Taskin Ahmed, refused to be rolled over. The trio hit out against the old ball and a spread-out field to set India 145 to win. And in a remarkably timid display, not unlike the manner of their top-order choke in the T20 World Cup semi-finals, India were reduced to 37 for 4 looking to defend their way throughout the 23 overs left on the third evening.
Only Axar Patel, promoted to No 4 ahead of Virat Kohli, stood firm with an unbeaten 26 to take India to stumps in the company of nightwatchman Jaydev Unadkat, with another 100 runs required on the fourth day. In the 138 deliveries they faced, the Indians hit just four boundaries, three of them coming from Axar.
Bangladesh had undoubtedly turned the momentum of the day in their favour with their lower-order hitting. However, far from showing any sort of intent to go after the target and underlining that they were still well ahead in the game, India came out as if they had only a few minutes to bat out until stumps, and could get away with just blocking. With fielders around the bat on a pitch that has offered something for the bowlers on all three days, it wasn’t the wisest of approaches. (READ MORE)
Ravichandran Ashwin and Shreyas Iyer saved India from what would have been a hugely embarrassing defeat, lifting them from the depths of 74 for 7 and dragging them to the target of 145 before lunch on the fourth morning of the second Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka for a 2-0 series win.
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When Mehidy Hasan Miraz uprooted Axar Patel’s leg stump for his fifth wicket of the innings, India were just past the halfway stage of what was increasingly looking like a target beyond them. Resuming on 45 for 4, India had lost Jaydev Unadkat plumb leg-before to Shakib Al Hasan, and had also burned a review in trying to save the nightwatchman.(read more)
You trust the guys in the middle (during such situations). We've played enough cricket to realise that someone will put their hand up to win us the game. But I'm not going to lie, there was a lot of tension in the dressing room. It was a tough wicket to bat on, they put us under pressure in both innings. It was a new-ball surface to some extent, once the ball got softer, it was easier to score runs. It was a matter of who played the new ball better. We did lose a few more wickets than ideal (in the chase) but we got the job done. Will take the win. That (bowling attack) has been the case for the last many years now. Wherever we've gone overseas in recent years, we have done the job.
It's been a great competitive series. I have been working hard on my game. Played a lot of First-class cricket and then worked a lot on my game, that's what helped me score these runs. Sometimes, there is enough gap between Test matches, which helps you prepare. I think playing First-class cricket is really important for improving. You need to be mentally prepared and I believe that if you are strong mentally, and prepare well, you'll be good.
We didn't have much batting left. It was one of those games where we let the game drift whenever we could have shut it off. Shreyas batted beautifully. Sometimes these situations you feel like you have to get ahead of things, they bowled good lines and I felt that we didn't trust our defences enough. Loved the way Shreyas batted. The pitches are quite good here. But I thought the ball got soft really quickly. Credit to Bangladesh, they put us under real pressure at certain moments.
Everyone contributed. We always knew that we had a chance in Mirpur. Very good Test cricket, that's what the crowds love to see. Both teams were really good. Credit goes to Shreyas and Ashwin, they absorbed the pressure well and built a partnership. We had 70-odd runs to play with, just needed one wicket. We can think of several Ifs and buts, but I'm proud of the way we fought. That (all-around skills) is my job, unfortunately, couldn't bowl much last game. We had our moments this year but hopefully, next year will be much better for Bangladesh.
Iyer and Ashwin have been magnificent and stepped when the team needed the most. A brilliant 8th-wicket partnership by the pair. Bangladeshi fans are heartbroken. Indian fans celebrating.
Ashwin dispatches Mehidy for six. Change of ends for Mehidy. India needs less than 10 runs now to whitewash Bangladesh and keep their hopes alive for the WTC final.
IND 137/7
Bangladeshi fielders feeling the pressure. Shanto trying to avoid a single concedes two. Bangladesh is losing its grip on the game. It is time they introduce Mehidy back into the attack.
Credit must be given to Bangladesh bowlers for making this chase difficult. Iyer and Ashwin have been brilliant so far. They have shown their class this partnership is what the doctor ordered for India.
IND 123/7
Pace into the attack and Ashwin welcomed Khaleen Ahmed with back-to-back boundaries. India need 26 runs to win.
Short and wide, Iyer goes back and punches off the back foot through the covers as the ball races away to the cover fence.
Short of a length into the pitch, Iyer pulls it away through the midwicket region as the ball races away to the fence. A much-needed boundary and over for India to keep their slim hopes alive here.
Flighted outside off, Iyer goes inside out over mid-off as the ball races away to the mid-off fence to bring up the 100 for India.
First boundary in 68 balls, Fuller and wide outside off from Mehidy, Iyer drives it through the covers square of the wicket as the ball races away to the fence. A welcome boundary for India.
Not that everything has been smooth sailing for Mehidy Hasan Miraz in his career. He had a great start, taking 19 wickets in his debut Test series that helped Bangladesh beat England for the first time. But in the time to come, his performances dipped overseas, and he was dropped. Enter Sohel Islam, the go-to spin guru for Bangladesh spinners. Luckily for Miraz, Sohel was also working at that point as the spin-bowling coach of the national team in the absence of Daniel Vettori. "Spinners must have a different seam position when they are playing abroad," he told Cricinfo. "There must be more overspin. The pace, line and lengths have to be different too. [Mehidy and I] worked together in Sri Lanka last year. We started from the run-up, which is now quite smooth. Bowling is all about the rhythm. When everything is in place, bowling becomes better. He went on to bowl well in Zimbabwe, and he has carried on from there. I think it is going in a good direction.”He certainly has. His overseas performances also improved, and he continues to be the star at home.
Mehidy Hasan is the new crisis man for Bangladesh cricket. In 2022, he has lifted Bangladesh out of hole at least 3 times. In February, they were tottering at 45 for 6, chasing 216 against Afghanistan, when Mehidy shepherded them to a win, adding 174 with Afif Hossain. And of course he has already scripted two come-from-behind wins in the ODI series against India this month. And now is in the starring role yet again against India in this Test.
Another one bites the dust. Mehidy cleans up Axar Patel. Five wicket haul for Mehidy Hasan Miraz. India seven down. (IND - 74/7)
Huge blow for India as Pant walks back to the pavilion!!! Good length ball on the middle stump line and Pant goes for defense but fails to get anything on the bat as the ball strikes on his pads. A loud appeal and the umpire is happy to raise his finger straightaway. India 6 wickets down now.
This time from the woods of Pant!!!! Tosses it up on the off stump and Pant goes for a reverse sweep and connects it well as the ball finds the gap and races away for a boundary. (IND - 68/5)
Intent from Axar. A gift from Mehidy and Axar rocked back and pulls it over mid-wicket for a boundary. India need 81 runs to win the series. (IND - 64/5)
Shakib draws the first blood of the day!!! Good length ball angling into the middle stump and Unadkat on the back foot misses the cut as the ball strikes his pads. A loud appeal and the umpire raises his finger straightaway. Unadkat has decided to go upstairs but the TV replay confirms the umpire's decision is absolutely correct as the ball was hitting the stump. Indoa have lost half of their side. Rishabh Pant walks in. (IND - 57/5)
Jaydev Unadkat absolutely smoked this out of the par. He went down on his knee and slogsweeps this over deep mid-wicket for a maximum. (IND - 54/4)
Good length ball on the middle and leg and Unadkat lunges forward to defend it but misses it and wears it on the pads. A loud appeal but no dice. They have decided to go upstairs. TV replay shows it's the umpire's call so Unadkat survives.
The umpires and the players are making their way out to the middle. Axar Patel and Jaydev Unadkat will resume for India. The Bangladeshi team are in a last-minute huddle before they make their way out to the middle. Jaydev Unadkat will face the first ball of the day. (IND - 45/4)
"Right, Day 4 pitch and nothing has changed. There are rough areas here as well. Litton and Nurul got more than 100 runs and Ashwin didn't bowl in the rough areas. Bangladesh was smart enough to use the rough and Virat Kohli's dismissal proved that. I hope India does not pay the price for being unsmart and not bowling in the three rough areas outside to the right-handers. "
But Litton Das, along with the plucky Nurul Hasan and Taskin Ahmed, refused to be rolled over. The trio hit out against the old ball and a spread-out field to set India 145 to win. And in a remarkably timid display, not unlike the manner of their top-order choke in the T20 World Cup semi-finals, India were reduced to 37 for 4 looking to defend their way throughout the 23 overs left on the third evening. (READ MORE)
Good Morning and a warm welcome to our live coverage of the 4th and day of the 2nd test match between Bangladesh and India.