‘The focus was on being patient and hitting right areas’ - Paras Mhambrey reveals India’s day 4 bowling plan against Bangladesh

Day four of the first Test against Bangladesh was indeed a frustrating one for the Indian bowlers. Chasing a target of 513 runs, the openers Najmul Shanto and Zakir Hasan gave the hosts a perfect start as none of India’s bowling plans worked.

Hasan, on his debut, hit a brilliant century while Shanto remained calm to stitch an important 156-run partnership for the opening stand. However, as the game grew, the Bangla Tigers lost momentum and the Indians capitalised on that. The KL Rahul-led side picked up six wickets on the fourth day as Bangladesh requires 241 runs more to record a win in their favour.

Now, while talking about India’s approach in the fourth innings, bowling coach Paras Mhambrey revealed that their entire focus was on being patient and waiting for the right opportunity. The 50-year-old mentioned that the wicket got relatively easier for batting and how it was all about hitting the right deck to create pressure and eventually cash in.

“I think the discussion after the first session clearly was to be patient. We knew that the wicket would be easy and as the game progressed we all realised that the wicket was getting easier. Whatever conversations we had with our bowlers, it was much easier kind of wicket to bat on. So we knew that it was hard work

“The focus was on being patient and hitting the right areas and trying to create those opportunities, and obviously take those opportunities even when you get a half chance. Very happy with how things have progressed, we pulled it back by picking six wickets in that next two sessions. So that was good,” Mhambrey said in the press conference as quoted by Cricbuzz.

The credit must be given to him: Mhambrey lauds KL Rahul for impeccable bowling changes

India’s stand-in skipper KL Rahul made some really good bowling changes in the fourth innings to bring back India into a winning position. After a rock-solid start from Bangladesh, India were slipping down but Rahul used Axar Patel well enough to change the complexion of the game. Sitting in the dressing room, Mhambrey too was impressed with that and lauded the cricketer later in the press conference.

“I think a lot of that changes KL made, the credit must be given to him. He rotated the bowlers very well, got the fast bowlers in short bursts. At one stage, when the ball was reversing as well and that was good to see, so got the seamers in. And when he realised that the fast bowlers did have longer spells, he got the spinners in, rotated them very well, especially the new ball we took as well, we took a couple of wickets. So the credit goes to KL,” he added.