Rishabh Pant, deemed as India’s saviour, managed only 9 runs and was one of the three wickets to fall early on Sunday. Bangladesh looked the favourites to win the second and final Test in Mirpur, having reduced India to 74 for 7 as the visitors still needed another 71 for victory.
But Bangladesh’s lack of killer instinct was always going to be a factor, and Shreyas Iyer (29 not out) and Ravichandran Ashwin (42 not out) took good advantage of that as they held their nerves and showed excellent temperament to take India home. The three-wicket win helped India seal the series 2-0.
The win may not be too convincing, but certainly crucial for India as they have been able to enhance their chances of making the World Test Championship final. At No.2 in the standings, India’s percentage points at present are 58.93, only behind that of Australia (76.92).
The 145-run target was of course far from being a steep one. Though India began proceedings on Day IV precariously placed 45 for 4, it was just a matter of one partnership that would win them the game.
But batting didn’t become easier on the tricky Mirpur track where the ball kept dangerously low at times, with Bangladesh spinners, led by Mehidy Hasan Miraz (5/69), making a robust defence of that modest target. Captain Shakib-al Hasan first got rid of night-watchman Jaydev Unadkat, trapping him LBW and then Miraz got into the act.
Picking up the prized scalp of Pant, who too was out leg-before, Miraz breached the defence of the well-set Axar Patel (34), the other overnight batsman. India still had hope in the form of Shreyas, who is amongst runs as well, and Ashwin. But more than anything, the duo needed to battle the pressure that kept mounting.
Shreyas looked steady from the onset, driving, cutting and lofting the ball with ample confidence. Ashwin, on the other hand, did go through a few anxious moments. But he ensured not to give in.
Particularly against pacer Khalid Ahmed, in the two overs the latter got to bowl, Ashwin had to go through a test. Khalid tried to attack the stumps as the ball was keeping low, but Ashwin managed to get his bat down just at the right time. And that was on more than one occasion.
Thanks to Ashwin’s grit, the rub of the green went his way as a thick edge just somehow found the gap between slip and gully, yielding him and India four vital runs.
Shreyas and Ashwin’s partnership had put the pressure back on Bangladesh. With the deficit down to less than 20, their bowlers began faltering in their lengths, which had an effect on Miraz as well.
The off-spinner started pitching it just a little too short, which helped Ashwin feast on those, hitting the bowler for a maximum and a couple of boundaries alongside taking a two — all in one over as India reached the target in the first session of Day 4.
Remaining undefeated in Tests against Bangladesh, India also managed to finish 2022 on a winning note. It brought about some relief as well for the team management that drew flak for benching the in-form Kuldeep Yadav for this game.
However, there’s a fair amount of work to be done going into the Tests versus Australia in February, especially when it comes to India’s batting.
If the heavyweights remain such vulnerable at the crease, head coach Rahul Dravid will be having nightmares.
