Yashasvi Jaiswal starred with twin fifties as India thrashed Bangladesh by seven wickets in the second and final Test in Kanpur to seal the series 2-0. After scoring a 51-ball 72 in India’s first outing, Yashasvi Jaiswal contributed with a fiery 51 as India comfortably accomplished the 95-run target. Yashasvi Jaiswal added 58 runs with Virat Kohli after India lost two early wickets.
Yashasvi Jaiswal fell prey to Taijul Islam after scoring 51 off 45 balls. He hammered eight fours besides a six. As per ESPNCricinfo, the left-handed batter has raced to 1,208 runs across 11 Tests at 64.05.His tally includes three tons and seven half-centuries. Yashasvi Jaiswal finished the series with 189 runs at 47.25.He has two tons and six fifties in home Tests.
Pitch and Toss
Pitch report: “Overcast conditions. It’s a black soil pitch. Traditionally pitches here have been slow and low. First innings totals always on the higher side and scores get low as the game progresses. Enough straw coloured grass in it for the bowlers to get some movement” – opines Murali Kartik.
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss and chose to bowl with no changes in the playing XI. Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto batting first made 2 changes in his playing XI with Taijul Islam and Khaled Ahmed in for Nahid Rana and Taskin Ahmed.
Day 1 : Bangladesh stay afloat on rain-marred opening day
Rain and bad light caused havoc on the opening day of the second Test between India and Bangladesh in Kanpur. On a gloomy day that had a delayed start owing to wet outfield, India opted to bowl and managed to prize out three wickets including the big scalp of Najmul Hossain Shanto for 31.
Conditions remained overcast but the talking point was the pitch which had variable bounce on offer from the get-go while also aiding the seamers and spinners. Batting, however, wasn’t impossible as Shanto showed along with Mominul (40*) – their partnership added 51 – before the Bangladesh skipper fell LBW to Ravichandran Ashwin.
Mominul, however, looked composed and batted with assurance against both pace and spin. For India, Akash Deep (2-34) was the pick of the bowlers while Jasprit Bumrah was unfortunate not to have a scalp or two. The former’s twin strike in the morning session pegged Bangladesh back as both openers fell in succession after a steady opening period of play. Zakir Hasan struggled to get going and eventually fell for a 24-ball duck but his partner Shadman Islam seemed more fluent until he got a sharp nip-backed from Deep to be trapped LBW.
The morning session was eventful with five reviews used up by both teams in total from just 24 overs. For the record, the entire Chepauk Test had only four reviews. Deep’s strikes gave India the spark they needed to make further inroads but they were thwarted by a solid approach from Mominul and Shanto. The Bangladesh captain fell in the second session which saw just the nine overs bowled before bad light intervened, followed by heavy rain that put a premature end to the day’s proceedings.
Day 4 : Batters record show and India attempt to make a match out of Kanpur damp squib
India’s sheer intent and aggressive execution helped them stay on top through an action-packed fourth day of the second Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur. Having lost 55 overs on the opening day and then two full days, all to the weather, the Test match seemed to be heading towards a drab draw.
It could still end in a stalemate, but India came out all guns blazing on the penultimate day to change the narrative. KL Rahul (68 off 43 balls) led the fireworks towards the end for the hosts as they tried to rack up a lead at the earliest. The Karnataka batter was at his dynamic best as he put a stunned Bangladesh attack to the sword.
His 87-run stand with Virat Kohli (47 off 35) ensured that the middle order capitalized on the foundation provided by the top-three. Such was the intent of India’s batters that both Rahul and Kohli, known more for their traditional approach, went hell for leather.
The tone had been set in the post-lunch session by Yashasvi Jaiswal’s blistering 51-ball 72 and his fiery opening stand with Rohit Sharma. The Indian captain had a brief stay at the crease but his 11-ball 23 had three sixes and sent out a statement that India were going for the kill. Shubman Gill (39 off 37) also got some quick runs while the batting promotion of Rishabh Pant didn’t quite work.
India eventually declared at the fall of their ninth wicket, having batted just a shade under 35 overs for their total of 285 – a phenomenal scoring rate of 8.22 runs-per-over. Even by the yardstick of England’s ‘Bazball’ methods, this was a couple of notches above, and the onslaught clearly left Bangladesh shocked.
Mehidy Hasan (4-41) and Shakib Al Hasan (4-78) helped themselves to a bunch of wickets with the batters being in T20 mode. The visitors had a tricky period to negotiate towards stumps but ended up losing two wickets during this phase, both to Ravichandran Ashwin. While the first one of Zakir Hasan was a classic off-spinner’s setup, the second of nightwatchman Hasan Mahmud came through an outrageous stroke.
All this meant that India ended the fourth day on a high with significant momentum in their favour. The day had started reasonably for Bangladesh despite losing three big wickets in the morning session. Mominul Haque (107*) kept his side in the hunt with a solid century but the left-hander had little support, particularly from the tail as Bangladesh fell from 224-6 to 233 all out.
For India, Jasprit Bumrah (3-50) was on the rampage today with adequate support from the other bowlers. It was also a landmark day for Ravindra Jadeja who got to 300 Test wickets, thereby getting himself into the elite club of players with the double of 3000 runs and 300 wickets in the longest format.
The stats of the day paint a freak picture in itself – 437 runs were scored off the 85 overs bowled while a whopping 18 wickets also fell in the process. Bangladesh still trail by 26 with eight wickets in the shed. A draw still seems the most probable result but funnier things have happened on the final day in situations like these.
Day 5 : Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah trigger Bangladesh into self-destruction
India took giant strides towards completing a win in Kanpur on the fifth morning of the second Test against Bangladesh. The visitors lost their remaining eight wickets in the first session that went on for close to three hours, thereby leaving India with a paltry target of 95 to seal the Test match.
Jasprit Bumrah (3-17) and Ravindra Jadeja (3-50) were the major destroyers with the ball for India on the final day but they were generously aided by some bizarre shot-selection from Bangladesh’s batters. Barring Shadman Islam (50) and to an extent Mushfiqur Rahim (37), none of them seemed to be in the mood to put up a fight.
Starting the day with a slender deficit of 26, Bangladesh’s first priority would have been to get into the lead without losing a wicket. That, unfortunately, didn’t go to plan as first innings centurion Mominul Haque fell to a clever little plan from Rohit Sharma and co.
Knowing Mominul’s tendency to sweep, there was a leg slip in place, which meant that he couldn’t look for the paddle. Then, in an attempt to play the hard sweep, he got it right off the face of the bat, only for KL Rahul to take a sharp catch at leg slip, with Ravichandran Ashwin the bowler. The early strike did dent Bangladesh but they recovered briefly.
Shadman batted with positive intent and unfurled a plethora of boundaries through crisp timing. He was sound in his defence, left the ball well and didn’t spare any loose deliveries that were on offer. Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto also looked comfortable as the pair stitched half-century stand to keep the visitors afloat under crisis.
It didn’t seem at that point that this would be the calm before the storm. Ravindra Jadeja, unused till then, was brought into the attack and he struck in his very first over, courtesy a horror stroke from Shanto. The Bangladesh skipper went for a risky reverse sweep and the execution of the shot made it worse as he got castled around his legs.
It was the breakthrough that opened the floodgates as Jadeja then had Litton Das nicking behind to a ripper while Shakib Al Hasan offered a tame return catch. Shadman then fell just after his fifty to a loose shot against the relentless Akash Deep. From 91/3, Bangladesh were now on the ropes at 94/7 with India breathing fire. Bumrah then made short work of the tail, dispatching Mehidy Hasan and Taijul Islam in succession.
Rahim managed to delay the inevitable for a while by farming the strike with last man Khaled Ahmed. With the ninth wicket falling at the stroke of the scheduled lunch break, the session had to be extended by a maximum of 30 minutes. Rahim chipped away at the runs and seemed like closing the session out unscathed, only to be undone by a Bumrah brilliance.
With the final ball of the session, India’s pace spearhead let fly his signature off-cutter that gripped and cleaned up Rahim who didn’t help his cause by trying a booming drive. It was a fitting end to the session for India who are now in pole position to complete the winning formalities.
Yashasvi Jaiswal twin half centuries and relentless India conjure a famous 2-0 series win in Kanpur
In what will be remembered as one of the freak Test matches of all time, India sealed a comfortable seven-wicket win over Bangladesh on the fifth day after Lunch in Kanpur. Through this result, the hosts sealed the two-match Test series 2-0, registering their 18th successive series win at home.
With a paltry target of 95 to chase, India’s approach was no different from what they did in the first innings. Rohit Sharma struck a boundary to signal the charge but the Indian captain fell soon to Mehidy Hasan as Bangladesh started with spin from both ends.
Yashaswi Jaiswal (51) smashed his second fifty of the game and along with Virat Kohli (29) did the bulk of the scoring although the former fell at the cusp of victory. The odd ball did keep low but with such a low target to defend and India’s batters on the charge, Bangladesh’s bowlers couldn’t do much. While the win came in the second session on the final day, it’s what India did in the previous four sessions that defined the game in its totality.
The first three days of the Kanpur Test seemed like a slow-burning thriller sans the twist with inclement weather and an underwhelming outfield playing spoilsport. The 35 overs bowled on the opening day was the only cricketing action witnessed until play finally resumed on the fourth day. Bangladesh were placed at 107/3 on a surface that appeared tough to predict. The black soil meant low bounce but the overhead conditions and dampness also allowed for extravagant movement for the pacers. Spin, as always, was inevitable too.
It was perhaps why Rohit opted to bowl at the toss but his bowlers weren’t collectively on top during the 35 overs of the first day. Jasprit Bumrah had a very rare off-day while Mohammed Siraj was only good in patches.
It was Akash Deep’s twin strikes that helped to vindicate Rohit’s decision at the toss even as Ravichandran Ashwin got the ball to talk a fair bit. But bad light on day one followed by rain and wet outfield did so much damage that a draw looked like the best probability. Until India decided to hit top gear, thereby forcing Bangladesh into self-destruction.
The fourth morning started like any other regular Test match day and Mominul Haque seemed at ease en route to his 13th Test ton. The left-hander batted with poise and seemed untroubled at the crease. However, he lacked support at the other end. Veteran Mushfiqur Rahim’s dismissal – he offered no stroke to a sharp Jasprit Bumrah nipbacker – set the tone for India’s dominance. India’s pace spearhead was back at his best while the other Indian bowlers also chipped in. It meant that Mominul was left stranded in the end, running out of partners.
Bangladesh’s collapse from 224-6 to 233 all out was just the tonic India needed as the hosts were keen on taking the match forward in a bid to maximize WTC points from the game. If India’s bowlers produced a laudable display on the fourth morning, their batters went up a notch in the afternoon session.
Rohit’s men played an extraordinary brand of T20 cricket in a Test match, on a surface where fluent strokeplay wasn’t straightforward with the low bounce. The captain set the tone with a cameo but it was Yashaswi Jaiswal’s 51-ball 72 that led India’s charge.
As Mehidy would say later at the press conference after the fourth day, it was an onslaught that shook Bangladesh’s bowling attack. Shubman Gill (39) and Virat Kohli (47) all batted with the same ultra-aggressive approach while KL Rahul (68) shepherded the assault towards the end with his dynamic strokeplay. To put it statistically, India faced 238 deliveries lesser than Bangladesh and yet ended with a lead of 52.
The hosts’ scoring rate of 8.22 was a landslide record for the best innings run rate for any team with a 200-plus score in Tests. It was just one of plenty of records shattered as India also smashed fastest 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 in the format.
Having declared at the fall of the ninth wicket, India were eager to grasp at least a wicket before stumps. They ended up getting two in the end, both to Ravichandran Ashwin. The off-spinner set up opener Zakir Hasan wonderfully with a mix of sliders and off-breaks to get him LBW. Shortly thereafter, nightwatchman Hasan Mahmud played an outrageous slog to get bowled, giving India a fitting end to the day’s play. While Mahmud’s atrocious stroke was shocking, the more established batters were about to outdo him the next day.
Starting the day with a slender deficit of 26, Bangladesh’s first priority would have been to get into the lead without losing a wicket. That, unfortunately, didn’t go to plan as first innings centurion Mominul Haque fell to a clever little plan from Rohit Sharma and co. Knowing Mominul’s tendency to sweep, there was a leg slip in place, which meant that he couldn’t look for the paddle. Then, in an attempt to play the hard sweep, he got it right off the face of the bat, only for KL Rahul to take a sharp catch at leg slip off Ashwin.
Shadman batted with positive intent and unfurled a plethora of boundaries through crisp timing. He was sound in his defence, left the ball well and didn’t spare any loose deliveries that were on offer. Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto also looked comfortable as the pair stitched half-century stand to keep the visitors afloat under crisis.
Ravindra Jadeja, unused till then, was brought into the attack and he struck in his very first over, courtesy a horror stroke from Shanto. The Bangladesh skipper went for a risky reverse sweep and the execution of the shot made it worse as he got castled around his legs. If Mahmud’s shot was outrageous as a tailender, this from a specialist batter and captain was unforgivable.
It was the breakthrough that opened the floodgates as Jadeja then had Litton Das nicking behind to a ripper while Shakib Al Hasan offered a tame return catch. Shadman then fell just after his fifty to a loose shot against the relentless Akash Deep. From 91/3, Bangladesh were now on the ropes at 94/7 with India breathing fire.
Bumrah then made short work of the tail, dispatching Mehidy Hasan and Taijul Islam in succession. Rahim managed to delay the inevitable for a while by farming the strike with last man Khaled Ahmed. The former eventually fell to a signature Bumrah at the stroke of the extended lunch break.
Chasing a target of 95, it was only a matter of when as far as India’s win was concerned. Yashaswi Jaiswal ensured that it happened quickly enough to seal a famous win for India. Strength of the opposition and home conditions could tend to undermine the significance of the victory but the intent India showed to force a win under such conditions makes it a memorable win.
Jas-Ball was at his finest as Yashaswi Jaiswal showcased his attacking prowess and was arguably India’s best batter across both the innings. Yashaswi Jaiswal was merciless and the situation in the Kanpur Test was tailor-made for the youngster to shine at the highest level.
However, the team performed a miracle, and it was led by the young Yashaswi Jaiswal with the bat in the first innings. Yashaswi Jaiswal slammed 72 off 51 deliveries, at a strike-rate of 141.18. The left-handed batter Yashaswi Jaiswal aid the foundation for the other batters as India had a run-rate of over 8 in the first innings. Again, in the second innings, Yashaswi Jaiswal stood tall and was their till the last moment.
India lost Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill early in the innings, and alongside Virat Kohli, Yashaswi Jaiswal took India home and scored another fifty to seal India’s series win.
Presentations and Road Ahead
Najmul Hossain Shanto the losing skipper said : Both the Tests we didn’t bat well. In these conditions we need to bat well. If you look at our batters – we played 30-40 balls and got out. It’s important in a Test match, when batsmen get in, you should look to score big runs.
The way Ashwin and Jaddu batted at that time – they batted really well. As a bowling unit we need to look at those moments – how we can get those wickets. That partnership cost us that game. The way Mominul batted this innings will help going forward. And the was Miraz bowled in both innings – he bowled really well.
Rohit Sharma the winning skipper said : We all keep going. Obviously at some stage we had to start working with different personnel. When Rahul bhai said he was done being here – we had a fantastic time but life moves on. We all have to move on. Gautam Gambhir, I’ve played with him and know what sort of mindset he comes in with and allows players to go and play the way they want to play. Early days but it’s been a good start.
We had to think a lot about how the game can keep moving forward. Once we lost two and a half days, when we came on day 4 we wanted to get them out as quickly as possible and see what we can do with the bat. All depended on how many runs they get. When they got bowled out for 230, it wasn’t about the runs we get but the overs we wanted to bowl at them. Which meant we had to try and up the run rate and score as many as possible.
Pitch didn’t have much for the bowlers. To make a game out of it on that pitch was a superb effort from the bowlers. And then the batters obviously with that mindset to buy into the thought of going and getting runs as quickly as possible. It was a risk we were willing to take because when you’re trying to bat like that, you can be bundled out for a low score. But we were ready for it even if we got bowled out for 100-150.
We wanted to give ourselves a chance to be in the game and get a result. He’s been good (talking about Akash Deep). Lot of domestic cricket he has played. When you come up through the ranks like that, there are a lot of overs in the legs. We know the guy can do the job the team is expecting. He has the quality and the skill. Good body as well – can bowl long spells and can bowl quick as well. That’s what the idea is.
We want to create a bunch of bowlers who are ready to play. There’s too much cricket happening and a lot of injuries and stuff like that. You have to make sure you prepare yourself and prepare your bench strength in a way that if someone is injured, you have someone to replace.
Yashaswi Jaiswal for his twin half centuries is Player of the Match said : I think I was just thinking what I can do for my team. The situation was different in Chennai, and different here. I was just trying to do what I should do for my team and was trying my best. Every innings is important.
I try my best and prepare in that manner. Rohit bhai and sir told me to play the way I want to. We had a chat that we had to at least put some scores and we can play freely. Wanted to win this game and we were just going for it.
Ravichandran Ashwin is Player of the series for his all round show said : Really glad I’m able to turn up performances for the team’s victory. Winning this game was important for us. Lot of bowlers contributed really well for us today. Massive win for us in the context of the WTC. When we bowled them out yesterday, it was little after lunch. Rohit was keen that we needed 80 overs to bowl at them.
And the moment he came inside out and gave that talk where we’re going to go after it even if we get out under 230. It’s not only him saying it, he went out there and hit his first ball for six. He set the tone that way and obviously follows on from there. The kind of bowling attack I’m part of, incredibly proud of it. How Jassi bowls, how Siraj turns in, how Akash turned up, ad don’t have to mention much about Jaddu.
With the new ball you get more bite out of the surface. It is slow. The more you put overspin, it’s going to be harder because the ball doesn’t leave the surface so you must be able to change the pace up. We’ve played enough on these surfaces around the country where the soil is similar.
So we expect a team with such experience to make those adjustments. I don’t use it as much as I do in the white ball format (carrom ball). I’m happy to settle into the rhythm. The revs I put on the ball cannot be underestimated. So I believe in it a lot more. The different, subtle variations that I can bring to the table. It’s about building the spell and getting into a fine rhythm as most spinners will say.
Less than 24 hours after sparking off a near-unthinkable push for victory in a game in which only 35 overs had been bowled in the first three days, India’s batters completed the task they had started by smashing down their target of 95 in just over an hour. The highlight of India’s performance on Tuesday came from another record-breaker from the fourth day;
Ravindra Jadeja’s triple-strike started a slide for Bangladesh in an extended first session, in which they were bowled out for 146. India lost three wickets in pursuit before Rishabh Pant hit the winning runs in the chase set up by a 43-ball fifty from Yashaswi Jaiswal, and extended their lead at the top of the WTC points table with a 2-0 series sweep.
The 312 balls India batted for in this Test is the second-fewest they have faced – and the fourth-fewest overall – to win a Test match, behind the 281 against South Africa in Cape Town earlier this year.
India have pulled off a win that looked highly unlikely yesterday morning when close to three days of play were lost due to rain and wet outfield. But the message was clear from the management – they had to go for it and see what could be achieved. And what they’ve achieved is something quite remarkable. Despite all the time that was lost, the hosts have bulldozed their way to victory with more than a session to spare, sealing the series 2-0 which takes them closer to the WTC final.
A lot has been said about the greatness of this team, especially at home, and they’ve added yet another feather in the cap by dismantling an opposition that was coming in full of confidence after a historic win against Pakistan. The approach with the bat was breathtaking yesterday, breaking all kinds of records for fastest team totals at various points.
But don’t forget the bowlers who skittled Bangladesh twice on a pitch that wasn’t a minefield by any means. Bumrah, Ashwin, Jadeja – really, what’s left to be said about how good they are. But Akash Deep has made a serious mark in the chances given to him.
Rohit collects the trophy, then goes over to his teammates and hands the trophy to Akash Deep as they pose for the photos. Another series win in the bag at home. They’ve now won six Tests in a row, just one away from equalling their longest winning streak in Tests. That chance will come shortly against NZ with three Tests scheduled from mid-October.
If they happen to go past that record, it’ll only underline how good this bunch of players are. What they have done here in Kanpur is no mean feat with all that transpired over the first three days. And they’ve done it without Mohammed Shami who is such a huge threat, especially in these conditions. These two teams will meet again for a three-match T20I series in five days time.
With the 2-0 series win, India now need just 4 victories in 8 Tests to seal their place in the WTC finals. They will play 3 Tests against New Zealand, and 5 against the mighty Australian team, Down Under.
The Rohit Sharma led side will be looking to clean sweep the Kiwis, so that the job becomes easier in Australia. The Indian team, in this WTC cycle have lost just 2 Tests (one against South Africa, one against England), and have been superior against every team, but will face a stern test when they’ll travel Down Under for a riveting 5-match series against Australia.