IND v BAN, Only-Test, Day 5 Review: India completes impressive win

As has been the case for the most part when Bangladesh has batted, the Indians have been bearing the brunt of the frustration. This is not only because the wickets have been hard to come by, but also because of the fact that the visitors were batting out of their skins. This was supposed to be a match that the Indians won with little or no risk. However, the match had already gone into the fifth day with the Indians still requiring seven wickets to complete the win.

However, as has been the case in the last 5 to 10 odd Test matches, some erratic shots from the Bangladeshi players are usually the undoing of these players. This saw the dismissal of the skipper of Mushfiqur Rahim who was hauled out to cover. However, the close of the session saw a massive amount of boundaries smashed to different parts in the form of Sabbir Rahman being quite aggressive.

The day began with the visitors in some impressive batting on the morning despite the early wicket of Shakib-al-Hasan. The latter was dismissed after Ravindra Jadeja got one to turn a country mile. However, this was also something that ensured the Indians were one step closer to victory. It was also perhaps no fault of Shakib as there was little that he could do when the ball was pitched into the rough.

A partnership began brewing between Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim as the duo began ebbing away at the total set by the Indians. However, this was also something that forced Virat Kohli to turn his head and look at someone like Ravi Ashwin to provide him the wicket he so desperately needed. Ashwin provided the wicket almost instantly as he dismissed Mushfiqur who was out to a terribly erratic and rash shot, something that he did not do in the first innings.

The conclusion to the session saw the visitors begin taking the attack to the opposition. Sabbir Rahman batted with utmost confidence, something that he has previously shown as well as dealing with the likes of Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, something that he did quite well to say the least. With the five wickets to play in the next two sessions, it would be yet another upset if the Bangladeshis were able to pull off a draw.

Although, despite all of this, there was a bit of resistance after the lunch break when Sabbir Rahman was removed soon after this episode, something that was perhaps the match that would ensure that the Indians were well and truly on the trail to secure a win. However, despite all of this, the fact of the matter is that the defense of the tail end batsmen who showed great character by defending with all their might.

Kamrul Islam Rabbi was perhaps one of those players who ensured that there was some impressive batting to come as he went ahead and simply defended the ball and also remained unbeaten on three runs. However, this was an innings of great character as he defended and batted for 70 deliveries.

While it was Ashwin and Jadeja who shared the bulk of the wickets, it was Ishant Sharma’s firey spell who ensured that he was once again coming close to reliving the Lord’s Test match in 2014. Taskin Ahmed was the last wicket to fall in the match as he was snapped up by Ravichandran Ashwin, someone who had been quite good with the ball

Brief Scores:

India, 1st innings: 687/6 dec

Bangladesh, 1st innings: 388 all out

India, 2nd innings: 159/4 dec

Bangladesh, 2nd innings: 250 all out (Mahmudullah 64; R Ashwin 4/78)