The highly anticipated Test series between Bangladesh and India ended with the home team convincingly defeating the visitors 2-0. Throughout the series, the Indian team was too powerful for their eastern neighbors, who controlled India for just two periods. After after, it was exclusively India.
Speaking of the opening game in Chennai, on Day 1, Bangladesh had India on the mat at 144/6. India was saved by a century from Ashwin and a heroic 86 from Jadeja. The Indian bowlers did a fantastic job of knocking Bangladesh out for 149 with 376 on the board. India played excellent batting, posting a target of 515 runs, which proved to be too much for the visiting team, who lost by 280 runs.
The second game got underway in overcast skies. Bangladesh barely got off to a start after being put to bat, losing their first three wickets for 80 runs. Rain entered the scene with the score at 107/3 and spoiled the next two and a half days. The match appeared to be destined for a draw as Day 4 got underway. Nevertheless, Bangladesh was bowled out for 233 thanks to another diligent bowling performance from India.
What followed stunned the guests. The hitters who came after Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal continued the same style of play, treating it like a Twenty20 match. India had plenty of time to bowl Bangladesh out again after scoring 285/9d in just 34.4 overs, which they accomplished rather quickly to chase a goal of 95 runs. India eventually won with ease, winning by seven wickets.
Here are five things that we learned from this series –
1. India are far ahead of Bangladesh in Tests
Bangladesh had defeated Pakistan 2-0 in Pakistan a few weeks prior to the start of the tour, winning both a series and a Test match against them for the first time. It seems sense that this offered them great confidence and served as a warning to India not to take them lightly. In light of these circumstances, it was predicted that Bangladesh would challenge India, something they only accomplished in the opening two games of the series. From then on, India consistently outperformed the opposition.
Bangladesh as a team did not perform well in key moments. In Chennai, their first-inning batting did not live up to expectations. Actually, altogether, it was erratic. The problem seemed to be more with their thinking than their abilities because it was unclear what they were trying to achieve. It wasn’t the Bangladeshi batting that we often witness, particularly when they play at home, when they attempt to control the bowlers.
It might be argued that their bowling was superior to their batting. But in addition to the Indian bowlers, their own batters’ inability to score runs put pressure on it. The Bangladeshi team did not appear to be a team that could flourish or rise from the ashes based on their entire body language on the pitch. This series gave the impression that Bangladesh and India were far apart.
2. Resilience of Indian batting line-up
In the first innings of the first Test, the bowlers from Bangladesh stunned the Indian batting lineup. At 144/6, it seemed impossible to reach 200 at all. But here is the point where India’s batting lineup’s guts and experience saved them. India was able to contend over a crucial stretch of play because to their hitters, Ashwin (113) and Jadeja (86). If they hadn’t managed to establish a partnership of 199 runs, the outcome of the first Test match might have been different.
The Indian hitters were encouraged by the bowlers’ success in the first innings and did not look back. Shubman Gill scored a century in the second innings after failing in the first. Following his tragic accident, Rishabh Pant made his Test cricket comeback, scoring 39 and 109 in Chepauk. India declared their intention to quicken the pace of play and overwhelm the opposition when they scored their runs at a 4.48 clip in the second innings.
India not only scored runs quickly in the second Test at Kanpur, but at one point they were unfazed by wickets dropping at regular intervals. They capitalized on the momentum and continued to score runs. They never considered returning to playing Test cricket at the customary tempo.
3. Shakib Al Hasan was not his usual self
Throughout all formats, the 37-year-old cricket star from Bangladesh has produced remarkable and game-winning performances with the bat and the ball. Just having Shakib on the team gives everyone a psychological lift and gives the opposition a warning. The veteran did not, however, appear to be the same person.
His batting totals were 32, 25, 9, and 0 runs scored. It is surprising that he only scored 66 runs in four innings, as it had a significant impact on Bangladesh’s batting performance. Not only were the scores unusual, but so was the way he was let go. Shakib’s form and attitude in this series were encapsulated by a simple catch back to the bowler in the second innings and a hoick to demonstrate intent in the first innings in Kanpur against a cunning Ashwin.
He also bowled far worse than he normally would have. Notably, in Chennai, he failed to claim a wicket. His two innings of total stats came to 0/129. He did take four wickets in Kanpur and bowled well when the Indian hitters were on the attack. He did give up 78 runs at a rate of 7.09 per over though. Shakib was obviously off-color in the series, finishing with an overall score of 4/225.
One could claim that his off-field circumstances had an impact on his performance. Given that he didn’t act like himself on the field, the argument has some merit.
4. Attacking cricket – India’s philosophy
Under several leaders over the past 20 years, the Indian team’s strategy and style of play have changed. The Indian squad has started playing an attacking style of Test cricket recently. When Virat Kohli took over as captain, he and Ravi Shastri pursued victories without considering the risk of losing. Something that was off limits to them was a draw.
In a similar spirit, it seems that the squad would step up its aggressive, go-for-the-win strategy under the direction of Gautam Gambhir and Rohit. People will speak about India’s first-inning batting performance in Kanpur for a very long time. They made the game exciting by shattering several records for quick run scoring. A draw that appeared certain at the beginning of Day 4 was now only a remote possibility at the end of the day. On Day 5, an Indian triumph was the most likely outcome.
India found success with this aggressive batting style in Kanpur, and it might continue to be effective going forward. However, it carries some danger, and unlike Bazball, it is acknowledged that the team would mostly use this tactic when they need to quicken the speed of play in order to get a result.
5. Indian bowling comes to the fore again
The Indian bowling was spot on from the first game. The tone was established in Chennai’s first innings by the exceptional spells bowled by pack leader Jasprit Bumrah, ever-passionate Siraj, and newcomer Akash Deep. When pace was insufficient in the second innings, Ashwin’s deft off-spin and Jadeja’s plodding left-armers came in handy to help bundle out the opposition.
Once more, the bowlers cooperated in Kanpur to restrict Bangladesh to 233 in the opening session, which gave the Indian hitters the opportunity to take control of the game. Although there was little time left and a small advantage in the second innings, the bowlers managed to create a collapse on the last day when a partnership was formed and the visitors appeared stable. Bangladesh went from 91-3 to 94/7 and finally 146 all out because to a team effort. If not for the Indian bowlers’ effort, the game might have been decided by a narrow margin. India, on the other hand, won the match easily and without any pressure.
Also Read: IND vs. BAN 2024: Virat Kohli funny imitates Bangladesh’s missed run-out chance in Kanpur
It is amazing how the Indian bowlers can turn around a game and put on performances that are crucial to the outcome of a particular match, like in the T20 World Cup 2024 final. With eight more Tests in the coming months, and a spot in the World Test Championship final on the line, it bodes well for them.
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