The rain gods finally relented in the second Test between India and Bangladesh, but the action was anything but damp! A high-scoring day saw a flurry of wickets and a display of Indian batting dominance that rewrote the record books.
Pitch Perfect? Not Quite:
The initial days were a frustrating washout due to a wet outfield. However, Day 4 saw a dramatic turnaround. With the pitch still offering some assistance to the spinners, a total of 18 wickets tumbled.
Bangladesh Falters Despite Mominul’s Ton:
Bangladesh resumed on 107/3 but could only manage 233 runs. Mominul Haq, defying the conditions, scored a gritty century (107). Jasprit Bumrah (3/38) led the Indian bowling attack with able support from Mohammed Siraj (2/32), Ravichandran Ashwin (2/57) and Akashdeep (2/48).
India’s Batting Bonanza:
The highlight of the day was undoubtedly India’s batting blitzkrieg. Playing with T20-esque aggression, they declared at a mammoth 285/9. Openers Yashaswi Jaiswal (72) and Rohit Sharma (23) set the tone with a quickfire 50 in just 18 balls. While Shubman Gill (39) struggled, Virat Kohli (47) and KL Rahul (68) anchored the innings with fluent knocks. Rishabh Pant (9) was the only disappointment. Credit must also go to the Bangladeshi bowlers, with Mehidy Hasan Miraj (4/41) and Shakib Al Hasan (4/78) picking up crucial wickets.
Records Tumble as India Flexes Muscle:
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the day was India’s record-breaking batting display. They became the fastest team to score 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 runs in Test cricket history. This aggressive approach has left Bangladesh needing 251 runs to win with eight wickets remaining – a challenging but not insurmountable task.
A Tense Finish Looms:
With two days left and the pitch offering some turn, the stage is set for a thrilling climax. Can Bangladesh chase down a mammoth target, or will India wrap up a convincing victory? The battle lines are drawn, and all eyes will be on the upcoming sessions for a captivating conclusion.
