Hyderabad: The enormity of defending on spinning Indian pitches on the fifth day again came into focus as the hosts defeated Bangladesh by 208 runs in the one-off Test at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium here Monday. South Africa, New Zealand and England in the near past have all tried their best to negate the turning and bouncing ball with both attacking and defensive ploys, but then they had failed.
Bangladesh tried a dose of both – they lasted 100.3 overs in the second innings – but then they capitulated to unerring discipline of Ravindra Jadeja and the reverse swing of Ishant Sharma.
It was always going to be a tall order for Bangladesh when they resumed on 103 for three on the final day and although they lived dangerously, they did not go down without a fight. Shakib Al Hasan (22, 50b, 4×4) and Mahmudullah (64, 149, 7×4) tried to battle it out in the middle. But then Ravindra Jadeja (4/78), Ravi Ashwin (4/73) and Ishant Sharma (2/40) had too many tricks up their sleeves for them. And the pitch also played its part.
Shakib got a brute off a delivery that jumped off the rough and he could only glove the ball as he tried desperately to avoid the ball. Cheteshwar Pujara took an easy looping catch at forward short-leg.
First innings centurion and skipper Mushfiqur Rahim (23, 44b, 2×4, 1×6) tried the attacking ploy against the spinners. He hit Ashwin for a couple of fortuitous boundaries and a six. But then he overdid that against the lanky off-spinner. Ashwin beat him in the air and Mushfiqur going for another lofted shot holed out to Jadeja running backwards at mid-off.
Sabbir Rahman (22, 61b, 3×4, 1×6) tried to do his bit as Mahmudullah hit his first half century since July 2015, with back to back straight boundaries off Jadeja. However, Ishant had his number with a barrage of rib cage deliveries… the batsman finally holing out at long-leg, mistiming a pull. Ishant, then added on to the misery of the visitors as he caught Sabbir plumb in front with a delivery that was the perfect reverse.
Mehdi Hasan Miraz and Kamrul Islam Rabbi played out 131 deliveries among them. However, Jadeja, coming back into the attack after 17 overs with the second new ball, dismissed them and Ashwin dismissed Taskin Ahmed to complete India’s victory.
It was a day, when Jadeja showed his class as a bowler, bowling 29 overs in comparison to Ashwin’s only 14. He went on hitting that rough outside the off-stump knowing very well that one delivery or the other would be too hot to handle for the batsman. And it worked off for him. Ashwin on his part, looked a little jaded, bowling too many loose balls, including full tosses and trying that occasional leg-spinner which had Wriddhiman Saha jumping around behind the stumps.
India thus completed their fifth successive Test win – four on the trot against England and this one. It is overall their eight win in nine Tests counting the three against New Zealand at the start of the season. They can aptly be called ‘Windia’.
But beware, the Australians are coming.
Men in Blue geared up for Australia Test series
India captain Virat Kohli, after a job well done against Bangladesh, said the players’ hearts and minds are already on the big series against Australia, beginning with the first Test in Pune, February 23.
Kohli said the side wants to build on the good work done so far this season, in the four Test series against Australia. “I thought England was the biggest series for us this season, but having won that 4-0, we want to consolidate on that against Australia. Everyone’s minds and hearts are already on it,” said Kohli after India defeated Bangladesh here Monday.
India had to work hard to dismiss the opposition twice. Kohli, who became the first batsman to smash four double hundreds in successive Test series, was especially pleased about the performance of his bowlers on a good batting track.
“Definitely, it was a good wicket to bat on, good toss to win, putting massive runs on the board helps. Bangladesh batted well in the first innings, the plan was to get into good habits and we have a big series coming up as well and the bowlers got into their rhythm and all in all a good game for us.
“The bowlers found ways to get batsmen out, that’s been the characteristic of our team. We didn’t get overexcited. Ishant’s spell was outstanding, coming with a soft ball, reversing it at pace. If we have two world-class spinners in the side, you can tell the fast bowlers to come in and attack and the partnership between them and the spinners is great. Umesh was a revelation really,” said Kohli.
Agencies