After two poor days on the field, Bangladesh will aim to produce an inspirational performance with the bat, in the one-off Test against India at Hyderabad. At stumps on the second day, Bangladesh reached 41 for 1, trailing by a mammoth margin of 646 runs in the first innings after the Indian batsmen made merry against their toothless bowling. Bangladesh need another 446 runs to avoid follow-on, a task that will take a historic effort. In all of their eight Tests against India, Bangladesh have been able to cross the 300-run mark thrice and 400 only once, which means the hosts may as well be in firm control of the game. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: India vs Bangladesh, one-off Test at Hyderabad
Tamim Iqbal was unbeaten on 24 off 48 and alongside him was Mominul Haque, having just opened his account. Bangladesh made a positive start after India declared their first innings at 687 for 6, with Virat Kohli scoring a monumental 204 while Murali Vijay and Wriddhiman Saha getting their respective centuries. Umesh Yadav provided India the first breakthrough, as he got Soumya Sarkar caught-behind for 15, which left the hosts with 19 more wickets to snaffle and register a massive victory at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. Full Cricket Updates, IND vs BAN Test, Day 2
It was a day that completely belonged to Virat Kohli, who scored his fourth double-century since July 2016. Kohli has created a world record that puts him even above Don Bradman and Rahul Dravid, as neither of these two had scored more than three double-centuries in consecutive series. Kohli now has four, starting with the one at Antigua (200), Indore (211), Mumbai (235) and 204 in this match.
Kohli was on a record-breaking spree, as he also bettered Virender Sehwag’s record of most runs by an Indian batsman in home season. Sehwag had scored 1,105 runs at home in 2004-05, which has been bettered by Kohli.
Kohli was involved in a 222-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Ajinkya Rahane. The two batted for close to 50 overs, just like the pair of Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara. In a little over 50 overs, Vijay and Pujara added 178 runs for the second wicket that revived India from a perilous position very early in the game.
Pujara and Rahane made nearly identical scores, but the latter was more belligerent in his run-scoring. Rahane was brought back into the Indian side in place of Karun Nair, who had scored a triple-century in his previous Test. Rahane roared back to form after having a quiet series against England, as he scored 82 off 133 balls with 11 boundaries. On the other hand, Pujara had scored 83 on Day One off 177 balls, studded with 9 boundaries.
Among the highlights of the day was Wriddhiman Saha’s second Test century and Ravindra Jadeja’s 60 not out. The two batsmen added 118 runs at close to 5 runs an over throughout their stay, as the Indians pulverised the Bangladeshi bowlers all over the park. India vs Bangladesh: Virat Kohli breaks Virender Sehwag’s record
Saha rode on a lifeline provided to him by Mushfiqur Rahim when the Bangladeshi captain fumbled twice and broke the wickets on the third attempt when the Indian batsman had stepped out of the crease. Saha went on to add another 102 runs to his total, something that would pinch Bangladesh right till the end of this game. Saha got to his century with a six dancing down the track.
Jadeja, too, was provided a lifeline when Tamim spilled a regulation catch at long-off. Jadeja was, however, in a race with Saha to get to his fifty, which he completed before the wicketkeeper-batsman got to his century. Jadeja struck 3 boundaries and 2 sixes to score 60 not out. Virat Kohli sets another new world record
India will be licking their lips as the wicket provided ample turn to the spinners. Ravichandran Ashwin bowled only one over in the final hour of the last session on Day Two, whereas Bangladesh are yet to face the might of Ravindra Jadeja. India will eye the remaining 19 wickets in a rapid succession given that they have more than enough runs to daunt Bangladesh.
On the other hand, Bangladesh can take this opportunity as a learning curve, and try and spend as much time possible, facing one of the best bowling attacks. Since a positive outcome is out of question for the visitors, the least that can be expected is that their batsmen show some gumption. While Ishant Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar looked ineffective on a flat deck which is likely to support spinners, Umesh’s wicket early on showed that the late movement will be key as well.
Teams:
India: Murali Vijay, Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma.
Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Mominul Haque, Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk & c), Sabbir Rahman, Mehedi Hasan, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Kamrul Islam Rabbi.
Brief scores:
India 687 for 6 decl. (Murali Vijay 108, Cheteshwar Pujara 83, Virat Kohli 204, Ajinkya Rahane 82, Wriddhiman Saha 106*, Ravindra Jadeja 60*; Taijul Islam 3 for 156) lead Bangladesh 41 for 1 (Tamim Iqbal 24*, Soumya Sarkar 15; Umesh Yadav 1 for 2) by 646 runs.
FULL CRICKET SCORECARD & BALL-BY-BALL COMMENTARY: India vs Bangladesh, one-off Test at Hyderabad