The current generation of Indian batsmen’s problems against intelligent spin bowling came to the fore once again.

At stumps on Day III of the second and final Test in Mirpur, India, chasing a relatively easy target of 145 after restricting Bangladesh to 231 in the second innings, were wobbling at 45 for 4 with their top order dismissed cheaply once again in the series.

In spite of losing four wickets including that of Virat Kohli, who was apparently furious seeing the Bangladeshis’ wild celebration following his dismissal off Mehidy Hasan Miraz (3/12), India can still fancy their chances of winning the Test and wrapping up the series. There’s still a fair bit of batting to follow in the first place while just one good partnership from hereon would be sufficient enough.

In the circumstances, India will again look forward to Rishabh Pant, who hit a commanding 93 and forged a 160- run stand with Shreyas Iyer in the first innings, to deliver. And considering the purple patch that Pant is going through in Test cricket, India would certainly be confident of the wicketkeeper-batter taking the team home from another tricky situation.

Besides, if overnight batters, Axar Patel (26 batting) and night-watchman Jaydev Unadkat (3 batting), can remain unscathed for at least half an hour on Sunday, the job could become easier for Pant and Shreyas.

“We have one of our batters in Axar, who has shown positive intent and played well so far. When one of the batters is set at the crease, we don’t need to take too much pressure then,” pacer Mohammed Siraj said at later at the news conference.

“We lost two extra wickets, but then, we also have Rishabh and Shreyas still to bat. So there’s not much to worry about.”

Not to forget, Bangladesh, too, are prone to choking in pressure situations. That they are still in the game is due to half-centuries from young opener Zakir Hasan (51) and Litton Das (73), who also stitched two important partnerships of 46 and 60 with keeper Nurul Hasan (31) and pacer Taskin Ahmed (31 not out), respectively.

However, a little prudence from Kohli at slip could have sent Litton back even before he reached his 50, off the bowling of Axar (3/68), who had the best figures among Indian bowlers in the second essay. Litton, roped in by Kolkata Knight Riders during Friday’s IPL auction in Kochi, was looking dangerous till Siraj (2/41) jagged one in to clean him up.

Now, irrespective of the outcome of this Test, what’s more of a concern is the cluelessness of the Indian top order against the likes of Shakib-al Hasan, Taijul Islam and Miraz. Stand-in captain KL Rahul finished on a poorer note, nicking one to the keeper off Shakib while Shubman Gill and No.3 Cheteshwar Pujara seemed totally confused as to which one would spin and which would go straight.

In the process, Miraz foxed both of them. Kohli, going in at No.5 with Axar sent ahead at No.4, hung around for a while but never looked confident.

He eventually perished, once again forward-defending with hard hands only to be taken at forward short leg. Like Rahul, Kohli too endured yet another forgettable series with an aggregate of just 45 at an average of 15, finishing yet another year without a Test hundred.

Of course, if India win this Test, these aspects will again be brushed under the carpet.