India firmly placed themselves in a commanding position at the end of Day 4 of the second Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur. Bangladesh closed the day at 26/2 in their second innings, still trailing by 26 runs, after India took an aggressive approach with the bat earlier in the day to gain a 52-run lead. Ravichandran Ashwin’s twin strikes have left Bangladesh in a precarious position, with a final day that promises high drama.
India’s Aggressive Batting Approach
India’s second innings was marked by an aggressive approach right from the outset. Openers Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal gave India the perfect start by scoring quickly. India raced past 50 within just three overs, setting the tone for the innings. Jaiswal was particularly impressive, top-scoring with 72 before being bowled by Hasan Mahmud, who delivered a low, unplayable ball that crashed into the stumps.
Virat Kohli added a quick 47, but his attempt to slog-sweep Shakib Al Hasan ended with him getting bowled. KL Rahul also contributed with a brisk 68 before he was stumped by Litton Das off Mehidy Hasan Miraz. Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja fell quickly as India kept looking to push the lead further before declaring their innings.
Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, India’s aggressive approach saw them post a second-innings score that left them with a lead of 52 runs. Mehidy Hasan and Shakib Al Hasan were the pick of the bowlers for Bangladesh, taking key wickets and keeping the Indian batsmen under pressure.
Ashwin’s Magic Puts India in Control
With 26 runs to wipe off and the pressure of playing under the looming threat of losing quick wickets, Bangladesh started their second innings cautiously. However, it didn’t take long for Ashwin to work his magic. He bowled Zakir Hasan for 10 with a beautiful delivery that trapped him lbw, and soon after, cleaned up Hasan Mahmud for just 4.
Bangladesh found themselves at 26/2 at the close of play, with opener Shadman Islam batting on 7 and Mominul Haque yet to open his account. The day ended with Akash Deep bowling a maiden over, highlighting India’s tight control over the game. Ashwin’s figures of 2/14 from 5 overs stand as a testament to his mastery in the fourth innings on a pitch that’s beginning to offer significant turn.
Bangladesh’s Task on Day 5
The final day promises to be a tense one for Bangladesh. They need to erase the 26-run deficit first and then bat through the day to save the match. However, they have already lost two wickets, and with India’s potent spin attack led by Ashwin, coupled with pace from Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep, it will take a herculean effort from Bangladesh’s middle order to avoid a loss.
Mominul Haque, who scored a century in the first innings, will be key to Bangladesh’s survival, alongside senior players like Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan. India, on the other hand, will be looking to wrap up the match quickly and secure a vital win, further boosting their position in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings.