After a massive 280-run victory in the first test match, Team India tried to overcome the harsh weather conditions in Kanpur to win the series’ second and last test match against Bangladesh by 7 wickets. With a 2-0 sweep against the visitors, Rohit Sharma and his men retain their top position in the World Test Championship (WTC) points table, having 98 points and 74.24 PCT.

Despite the rain threatening to play a spoilsport on Day 2 and Day 3 of the test match at Green Park Stadium in Kanpur, India batted with an aggressive approach in both their innings played on Day 4 and Day 5. Indeed, the cricketing world was surprised to watch the Indians adopting the Bazball style of playing test cricket, similar to the explosive technique of the England cricket players.

Indian opening batter Yashasvi Jaiswal bagged the Player of the Match award for scoring back-to-back half-centuries in the second test. Whereas, Team India’s spin bowling all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin equaled the legendary Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan’s record of grabbing most player of the match awards in test cricket on 11 occasions.

The second test match especially witnessed KL Rahul returning to form and Virat Kohli breaking Sachin Tendulkar’s lifetime record. Unfortunately, Bangladesh’s middle-order batter Mominul Haque’s century went in vain, as the Indian batters blended the style of ODI and T20I into test cricket batting at a run rate of 7.36 combined in both innings.

Let’s delve deeper to find out the intriguing highlights of the IND vs. BAN 2nd test match and how the hosts battled against the poor weather in Kanpur to seal the red ball series with a 2-0 victory.

Main Talking Points of IND vs. BAN 2nd Test Match 2024

Here is a short glimpse that makes you understand how the 2nd test match between India and Bangladesh created a sensation in the history of red-ball cricket:

1. Mominul Haque: Bangladesh’s Lone Warrior

After a gap of two days, Bangladesh resumed their first innings on Day 4 and concluded with a score of 233-10 in 74.2 overs, riding on Mominul Haque’s unbeaten century. The 33-year-old left-handed batter scored 107 runs from 194 balls (including 17 fours and 1 six) at a strike rate of 55.15.

2. Indian Bowlers’ disciplined bowling attack:

Apart from Mominul Haque, the rest of the Bangladeshi batters were tamed by the controlled performance of these Indian bowlers:

• Jasprit Bumrah: 3-50 in 18 overs (including 7 maiden overs).
• Mohammed Siraj: 2-57 in 17 overs (including 2 maiden overs).
• Ravichandran Ashwin: 2-45 in 15 overs (including a maiden over).
• Akash Deep: 2-43 in 16 overs (including 6 maiden overs).
• Ravindra Jadeja: 1-28 in 9.2 overs.

3. Team India Fastest to reach 50,100, 150, 200 and 250 in Test Cricket:

Interestingly, India scripted history by becoming the only team to reach the fastest fifty, hundred, one-fifty, and two hundred in test cricket.

Can you believe the entire batting line-up powered the team’s total to 285-9 in just 34.4 overs? Yes! It was only possible due to half-centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal (72 runs from 51 balls–including 12 fours and 2 sixes) and KL Rahul (68 runs from 43 balls–including 7 fours and 2 sixes).

Additionally, the supportive contribution of these batters ensured the Indian cricket team led by 52 runs and declared the innings on the fourth day itself:

• Rohit Sharma: 23 runs from 11 balls (including 1 four and 1 six).
• Shubman Gill: 39 runs from 36 balls (including 4 fours and 1 six).
• Virat Kohli: 47 runs from 35 balls (including 4 fours and 1 six).
• Akash Deep: 12 runs from 5 balls (including 2 fours).

These are the stats that highlight the fact that how the Indian batters showed their intent to accumulate huge runs instantly:

• 51-0 in 3 overs.
• 103-1 in 10.1 overs. 
• 150-3 in 18.2 overs.
• 202-4 in 24.5 overs.
• 250-5 in 33.6 overs.

4. Virat Kohli Fastest to reach 27,000 International Runs:

On 30th September 2024, Virat Kohli became the fastest cricketer to achieve 27,000 international runs in less than 600 innings and surpassed Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar’s record. Also, he became the fourth player in the cricket history to reach this crucial milestone.

5. Shadman Islam’s Half Century: Not Enough to Rescue Bangladesh

On Day 5, Bangladesh’s innings were wrapped up to a total of 146-10 in 47 overs, and the opening batter Shadman Islam’s 101-ball-50 runs (including 10 fours) wasn’t enough as his team was leading with just 94 runs.

Bumrah, Ashwin, and Jadeja grabbed 3 wickets each while Akash Deep managed to take a single wicket that restricted Bangladesh’s score to less than 150 runs in their 2nd innings.

6. Jaiswal and Kohli Guide India to a successful chase:

Chasing a target of 95 runs, Yashasvi Jaiswal played a steady 51-ball-45 run knock (including 8 fours and 1 six) after the dismissals of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill. Later, Virat Kohli joined the chase and remained not out by scoring 29 runs from 37 balls (including 4 fours). However, Rishabh Pant struck the winning runs by smashing four on his fifth delivery and guided India to a 7-wicket victory with a 98-run total in 17.2 overs.

Indian Skipper Rohit Sharma after Series Win against Bangladesh

After the glorious series victory against Bangladesh, Indian team captain Rohit Sharma spoke out, saying:

“Certainly! After we lost our precious 2 and a half days, on the 4th day we stepped on the field, we all were aligned to get them dismissed as soon as possible. The most rapid playing we could do in a test, we went on to see what we could do best with our bat. Somehow we could get them out for 230 runs, and for us, it was not about the runs but the number of overs we got them out.”

Also, Rohit Sharma added on saying about the pitch conditions:

“No! It isn’t easy to play such a game on that pitch, which requires more effort. Despite being aware of the fact that playing in such pitch can get all of us out in a bundle, we took that risk. And, we took that risk because we were ready even if we all got dismissed for 100 to 120 runs.”

Rohit Sharma about Akash Deep in IND vs. BAN Test series

The Indian captain popularly known as Hitman Rohit Sharma was delighted by the performance of Akash Deep, a 27-year-old right-arm fast-medium bowler.

Rohit Sharma said that:

“Of course! Akash Deep has been so good with his consistent performance as he has played many domestic cricket matches. Undoubtedly, Akash Deep has a perfect blend of good body, qualities, and skills, making him capable of bowling long spells.”

Conclusion:

The Indian cricket team recorded its 8th victory in the WTC 2023-25 cycle, out of 11 matches played so far. After the completion of the test series, Team India under Suryakumar Yadav’s captaincy is set to commence the 3-match T20I series scheduled from October 6 to October 12