In the second Test of the series against Bangladesh at Kanpur, India, led by Rohit Sharma, employed a bold, aggressive approach that caught Bangladesh off guard. Despite a rain-interrupted start that seemed to be heading towards a dull draw, India forced a result on the final day, seizing the opportunity to win the game. Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha admitted his team’s inability to react quickly to India’s unrelenting strategy, which became the highlight of the series.
After two days were lost due to rain, many expected the Test match to end in a draw. However, India’s batting in the third innings proved to be the game-changer. Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul unleashed a flurry of boundaries, helping India declare their innings at 285/9 off just 34.4 overs. The aggressive nature of the play and India’s intent to force a result after weather delays demonstrated a tactical brilliance that was unexpected, particularly given the conditions.
Hathurusingha admitted, “This approach was not seen before, and we did not react quickly. Credit to Rohit and his team for taking such an approach and making a game out of it.” India’s ability to breathe life into a dead rubber highlighted their determination to finish the series on a high, cementing their place at the top of the ICC World Test Championship points table.
Bangladesh’s batting, however, was the real letdown. After managing just 146 runs in the second innings, their chances of salvaging a draw quickly vanished as they crumbled under India’s relentless bowling. Within 21 minutes, top-order batters Najmul Hossain Shanto, Shadman Islam, Shakib Al Hasan, and Litton Das were sent back to the pavilion. Hathurusingha was particularly disappointed with the collapse, acknowledging that Bangladesh’s batting had not lived up to expectations.
“Batting has been disappointing in this series. We have not been performing to our potential in the last few series,” said the coach. He noted that while some players performed well in previous encounters, the skill level India brought to the series was significantly higher, which further exposed Bangladesh’s weaknesses.
Hathurusingha reflected on India’s dominance and the challenge his team faced, stating, “Playing India is the toughest assignment at this stage.” He also emphasized the importance of learning from these experiences, as it highlighted the stark difference in skill levels between Bangladesh and a top-tier side like India. The coach admitted that Bangladesh needed to improve significantly if they were to compete consistently with stronger teams on the international stage.
While the defeat in Kanpur was hard to swallow, Hathurusingha remained focused on the bigger picture, pointing out that his team had previously achieved significant success, such as a historic series win against Pakistan. However, he was clear that the Bangladesh team couldn’t afford to rest on past laurels when facing tougher opponents like India. He noted, “We knew the challenges would be steep in India. We didn’t get too high on ourselves after winning in Pakistan, and we shouldn’t go too low after this result either.”
The match’s end saw India cruising to a seven-wicket win, chasing down a target of 95 runs with ease. Rohit Sharma’s captaincy, particularly his decision to push for a result despite the weather conditions, was a testament to his tactical acumen. It was also an indication of India’s growing confidence in Test cricket, as they consolidated their lead in the World Test Championship standings.
For Bangladesh, the series served as a harsh reminder of the work that lies ahead. As Hathurusingha put it, “We need to improve our skills and play to our potential. India outplayed us, but we can take many learnings from this series.”
Moving forward, Bangladesh will need to assess their strategies, particularly in challenging conditions, if they want to perform better against the stronger cricketing nations. For now, India’s ability to turn what seemed like a drawn match into a definitive victory underscores the depth and resilience of the team under Rohit Sharma’s leadership. This series will serve as a learning curve for Bangladesh as they continue to build towards consistency in the longer format.