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The second Test match between India and Bangladesh in Kanpur concluded with a resounding victory for the hosts, as India secured a comfortable win on the fifth day. The match witnessed a dramatic turn of events in the final session, where Bangladesh's batting order crumbled under relentless pressure from the Indian bowlers, specifically Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja. India, having declared their first innings at 285/9, set a target of 95 runs for Bangladesh to chase. The visitors, however, failed to overcome the deficit, succumbing to India's dominance within the first session of the day.
The foundation for India's victory was laid in the morning session, as the team's bowling attack ripped through the Bangladesh batting lineup with remarkable efficiency. Bumrah, who claimed three crucial wickets, showcased his exceptional pace and accuracy, while Jadeja proved equally devastating with his spin bowling. Both bowlers exploited the inherent weaknesses in Bangladesh's batting, capitalizing on their erratic shot selection and tendency to play ill-advised strokes. The Bangladesh batsmen, seemingly devoid of any fighting spirit, often threw away their wickets with reckless abandon, further contributing to the team's demise.
The collapse began with the dismissal of Mominul Haque, who fell victim to a clever plan devised by Rohit Sharma and his team. Knowing Mominul's penchant for the sweep shot, India deployed a leg slip fielder, effectively negating his preferred shot. Mominul, in an attempt to execute a forced sweep, found himself caught at leg slip by KL Rahul. The early wicket, however, did not deter Bangladesh initially, as Shadman Islam and skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto steadied the ship with a promising half-century partnership. But the partnership was abruptly broken by the introduction of Ravindra Jadeja, who immediately made his impact felt. The Bangladesh skipper, Shanto, was trapped leg-before wicket as he attempted a risky reverse sweep, opening the floodgates for a flurry of wickets.
Jadeja continued to wreak havoc, claiming two more wickets in quick succession, further dismantling Bangladesh's batting. Shakib Al Hasan was dismissed for a paltry score, while Litton Das was trapped LBW. The dismissal of Shadman Islam, shortly after reaching his fifty, also played a significant role in Bangladesh's downfall. From a relatively comfortable position at 91/3, Bangladesh found themselves in a precarious situation at 94/7, with India on the verge of a complete dominance. Bumrah then capitalised on the fragile state of Bangladesh, dismissing both Mehidy Hasan and Taijul Islam in quick succession, essentially sealing the victory for India. While Mushfiqur Rahim showed some resilience, delaying the inevitable for a while, his resistance was eventually broken by a brilliant delivery from Bumrah, who bowled him out with a searing off-cutter on the final ball of the session.
In the end, Bangladesh's batting performance was far from impressive. They were undone by a combination of poor shot selection, a lack of composure, and the clinical bowling of the Indian team. Bumrah and Jadeja emerged as the match-winners, their brilliance proving too much for a struggling Bangladesh batting order. India, on the other hand, showcased their strength and resilience, securing a comfortable victory and taking a commanding lead in the two-match Test series.
Source: Jadeja, Bumrah trigger Bangladesh into self-destruction