India vs Bangladesh
On Sep 20, 2024, India’s top order collapsed again, but Team India is currently in the lead with a 308-run advantage. The match is being played on a pitch where Bangladesh’s hopes of winning gradually fade. However, India’s success is due to their bowlers, not their batsmen, as the top-order batters once again failed to deliver. Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed for 10, Rohit Sharma for 5, and Virat Kohli for 17 runs.
Despite the struggles of the batting order, India managed to secure a strong lead, thanks to the brilliant bowling performance. Jasprit Bumrah, Akash, Ravindra Jadeja, and Mohammed Siraj bowled exceptionally well, which led to Bangladesh being bowled out for just 149 runs in a single day, facing only 47 overs. This is the same Bangladesh team that performed well against Pakistan but failed to handle India’s bowling attack. Notably, Bumrah was unplayable, taking four wickets, Siraj claimed two, Akash took two, and Jadeja bagged two.
The bowlers dominated the day, as 17 wickets fell—seven from India and ten from Bangladesh. This is a record on this pitch, where the highest number of wickets taken in a day was 15 in 1979 and 2021. The fast bowlers delivered a phenomenal performance, which was unexpected on a pitch typically favorable to spinners. Bumrah stood out, reaching the milestone of 400 international wickets, and his dominance was unparalleled.
While India is commanding, some concerns remain regarding their batting. Rohit Sharma has struggled in this series, scoring just 5 and 6 runs in the two innings. Despite a stellar 2024 performance, he continues to face difficulties against Bangladesh. However, he did achieve a personal milestone by completing 1,000 runs as a captain in 2024.
Virat Kohli’s struggles against spinners continued, as he was controversially given out after a ball from Mehidy Hasan appeared to have hit his bat. Before 2020, Kohli had played 101 innings and was dismissed only 34 times by spinners. However, since 2020, he has been dismissed 22 times by spinners in just 32 innings, indicating a concerning trend.
Despite the top order’s failure, Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill showed positive intent, and Gill is expected to continue his form in the coming days. Day 2 of the match was all about the bowlers, and it will be crucial for India’s lower-order batsmen to extend the lead.
As things stand, India is in a dominant position. With a lead of 308 runs, they aim to bat for at least another day to extend their advantage further. If India adds another 200 runs, making the lead 500, it will become nearly impossible for Bangladesh to win the match unless something extraordinary happens.
In cricket, anything can happen, but India is on the front foot for now, with their bowlers leading the way.
