India's match against Bangladesh in Kanpur saw an exhilarating performance by the Indian side, particularly in their quest for a quick lead on the back of Yashasvi Jaiswal's explosive innings. On a day that witnessed some rapid-fire cricket after two rainy days, India put itself in a commanding position with a record-breaking batting display.
India, needing to make up for lost time due to two weather-interrupted days, saw Jaiswal provide the foundation with a stunning 51-ball 72. India reached notable milestones in men’s Test cricket history, securing the fastest team fifty and the fastest team hundred in a match. With the combination of aggressive batting and solid partnerships, India quickly took control of the match after Bangladesh's first innings collapse.
Starting their innings with intent, India showcased their attacking approach right from the first over. Jaiswal sent a message with his hat-trick of boundaries off Hasan Mahmud. Rohit Sharma, who has been known for his prowess in limited-overs cricket, brought that same explosiveness to the Test arena. Rohit's knock was particularly entertaining, as he smashed the first two balls he faced for sixes, setting the tone for India's innings. In fact, Rohit’s aggressive strokeplay resembled his batting style from white-ball formats. His assault on Khaled Ahmed, hitting a towering six over long-on followed by a pull shot into the deep square leg stands, signaled India’s aggressive intentions.
The Indian openers kept up the momentum, and within just three overs, they had brought up India’s fifty, setting a new record for the fastest team fifty in men’s Test history. The quick scoring continued with Shubman Gill taking over after Rohit’s dismissal. Despite Rohit being ruled out by a low-spinning ball from Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Jaiswal continued to dominate, treating the spinners with disdain. In just 10.1 overs, India reached 100, setting another record for the fastest team hundred in men’s Tests. This aggressive approach paid off as it put India in a position to chase down Bangladesh’s total of 233 quickly, leaving Bangladesh with little room for a comeback.
Bangladesh, on the other hand, was left reeling after their lower order collapsed earlier in the day. Starting the day at 233, Bangladesh added just 28 runs in 45 minutes after lunch, with the Indian bowlers wrapping up their innings quickly. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj combined well to clean up the tail, while Ravindra Jadeja reached his milestone of 300 Test wickets, further cementing his place among India’s top Test bowlers.
Bangladesh's collapse was stark, especially after Mominul Haque’s fighting century. Mominul’s 107 was the highlight of Bangladesh's innings, but it wasn’t enough to stave off the Indian attack. After his century, Bangladesh's tail could not provide any support, and they lost their last four wickets for just 28 runs. Bumrah's sharp bowling, in particular, stood out as he troubled the lower-order batsmen with his pace and movement, claiming key wickets to break Bangladesh's resistance.
India’s pace duo of Bumrah and Siraj was instrumental in ensuring that Bangladesh couldn’t build on Mominul’s innings. Bumrah’s dismissal of Mehidy Hasan Miraz was a testament to his skill, as he angled a delivery in and got it to seam away, forcing the batsman to edge it to the slips. Siraj, too, joined in the action by trapping Hasan Mahmud lbw, effectively ending Bangladesh's hopes of a competitive total. Jadeja’s contribution with the ball was also noteworthy as he dismissed the last batsman, achieving his personal milestone of 300 Test wickets.
By the time India started their innings, the game seemed firmly in their control. Bangladesh’s bowlers had no answer to the aggressive intent shown by Jaiswal and Rohit. The Bangladesh team, which had earlier in the series looked competitive, was left struggling to contain India’s relentless assault.
Shubman Gill, batting alongside Jaiswal, played a composed innings, allowing his partner to take on the bowlers. Once Jaiswal departed, Gill anchored the innings, even taking on the spinners with some confident strokeplay, including a massive six over midwicket off Mehidy. With Rishabh Pant joining him at the crease after Rohit’s dismissal, India looked to press further on their advantage.
By the tea break, India was at 138 for 2, trailing Bangladesh by just 95 runs, with plenty of time left in the match to build a significant lead. This dominant display, especially Jaiswal's 72 off 51 balls, gave India a clear advantage going into the final sessions.
India’s rapid scoring and Bangladesh’s batting collapse created a stark contrast between the two sides on the day. Bangladesh's inability to capitalize on Mominul’s century highlighted their weaknesses, while India’s aggressive strategy, led by Jaiswal’s quickfire innings, underlined their determination to secure a quick lead and push for a victory in the remaining time of the Test.
This Test match has been a showcase of India’s attacking mindset, with the records set for the fastest team fifty and hundred in men’s Tests serving as a testament to the aggressive approach of the team. It remains to be seen how India will capitalize on this momentum in the remaining sessions, but with a solid foundation laid by the top order, India is well on its way to securing a commanding lead and possibly forcing a result in a match that looked like it could end in a draw due to the earlier rain delays.
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