India is set to face Bangladesh in the second Test match starting Thursday in Dhaka, aiming to strengthen its position in the ICC Test Championship. The visitors, however, will again be without their captain Rohit Sharma, who is absent due to a thumb injury.
Currently, India is positioned second in the Test Championship standings, trailing behind Australia, who are leading their series against South Africa. This cycle of the championship runs through June 2023, with nine teams competing in six series each. The top two teams will advance to the final at The Oval in London.
In the previous Test held in Chittagong, India secured a definitive victory over Bangladesh by 188 runs. The match tested India’s resolve as they had to fight through the challenges posed by the Bangladeshi team. Chasing a daunting target of 513 runs, Bangladesh showcased strong performances, particularly from Zakir Hasan and Najmul Hossain, who set a record opening partnership of 124 runs.
Zakir Hasan marked his debut with a stellar century, scoring 100 runs, while captain Shakib Al Hasan contributed 84 runs. Despite Bangladesh’s efforts, India’s bowlers maintained composure, with Axar Patel taking four wickets and Kuldeep Yadav earning the player of the match title with three wickets to secure the win.
Reflecting on the match, KL Rahul, who captained in Rohit’s absence, acknowledged the difficulty of achieving victory in Test cricket. He emphasized the need to respect the phases when the opposition performs well.
Cheteshwar Pujara was a standout performer for India, scoring 90 and an unbeaten 102 in the two innings, while Shubman Gill also celebrated his first Test century in the second innings. On the other hand, Bangladesh, positioned last in the Test Championship with only one win in 11 matches, expressed disappointment over their lackluster first innings.
Their coach, Russell Domingo, pointed out that poor decision-making and a lack of confidence in the top order were major issues hindering the team’s performance. He noted the struggles batters faced as they failed to overcome their current slump.
As Bangladesh prepares for the upcoming match, at least one change is anticipated in their lineup, with pace bowler Ebadot Hossain ruled out due to a back injury. Uncapped left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed has been called up, although a decision will be made later regarding whether he or the returning Taskin Ahmed will take Ebadot’s place.
Match Info
- Teams: Bangladesh vs India
- Format: Second Test
- Dates: December 22-26
- Venue: Mirpur
- Play Starts: 7:30 AM UAE Time