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Mominul Haque's remarkable century in the first innings of the Kanpur Test against India marked a significant milestone for Bangladesh, breaking a 20-year drought for visiting batsmen at the Green Park stadium. The left-handed batsman's patient and well-paced innings, culminating in a century in the final over before lunch, highlighted his resilience and skill against a formidable Indian bowling attack.
Haque's journey to his maiden century on Indian soil was characterized by his measured approach. He entered the crease on the first day, facing a swinging pitch that demanded caution. He navigated this challenge with aplomb, meticulously building a solid foundation for his innings, reaching 40* at stumps on day one. The following two days were washed out due to rain, but Haque returned with renewed focus, confidently navigating the early challenges posed by Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah.
Despite losing batting partners around him, Haque remained unwavering in his concentration. He reached his half-century in 110 balls, showcasing his ability to adapt to the conditions. As the ball grew older, Haque accelerated his scoring rate, finding gaps and executing powerful shots with increasing confidence. His second fifty came up in just 62 balls, culminating in a magnificent century that included eight boundaries and a maximum. His decisive knock injected much-needed momentum into Bangladesh's innings.
Haque's innings was not without its share of fortune. He received a reprieve in the nineties when Rishabh Pant dropped a thin edge off Ravichandran Ashwin's bowling. Later, Virat Kohli missed a sharp diving chance at slip off Mohammed Siraj's delivery. However, Haque's resilience and determination were evident throughout, as he capitalized on these moments of luck to register his landmark century.
This century marked a significant milestone for Bangladesh, signifying their ability to compete against a formidable opponent on their home turf. It was also Haque's 13th Test century, solidifying his position as the leading centurion for Bangladesh. Furthermore, this was only Bangladesh's second century in Indian conditions in five Test matches, underlining the rarity of this achievement.
Haque's century also broke a 20-year-old record at the Green Park stadium. Since 2004, when South African Andrew Hall scored 163 runs, no visiting batsman had managed to score a century in Kanpur. All five centuries scored since then were achieved by Indian batsmen. Haque's achievement underscores his remarkable ability to overcome the challenges posed by the Indian bowling attack and the historical significance of his innings.
Despite the strength of Haque's innings, the rest of the Bangladesh batting lineup struggled on the fourth morning. The loss of three wickets, including Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das, and Shakib Al Hasan, in testing conditions highlighted the difficult circumstances faced by the visiting team. However, Haque's century stood as a testament to his individual brilliance and a reminder of his consistent ability to perform on the grand stage of Test cricket.