KANPUR, India – On an overcast morning in Kanpur, Bangladesh faced challenging conditions after being put into bat on the first day of the second Test against India. Despite the weather and a delayed start due to a wet outfield from overnight rains, Bangladesh managed to navigate through a tricky morning session without suffering major blows, thanks to a resilient effort from skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mominul Haque.
The decision to bowl first at the toss seemed a logical one for Indian captain Rohit Sharma given the damp and gloomy morning that promised early assistance for the bowlers. The pitch at Kanpur, with its grassy surface yet black soil characteristics, presented a stark contrast to the Chepauk track from the previous match. The lower bounce and slower nature of this pitch, however, demanded a different tactical approach.
India’s pace attack, led by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, capitalized on the conditions, finding significant swing and testing Bangladesh’s openers, Shadman Islam and Zakir Hasan, right from the start. Both openers faced a few anxious moments but managed to hold the fort for the early part of their innings, displaying a combination of patience and cautious aggression.
However, the breakthrough came soon after for India with the introduction of Akash Deep. The fast-bowling prodigy continued his impressive run by making an immediate impact. In his very first over, he managed to induce an edge from Zakir Hasan, sending the ball flying towards gully where Yashasvi Jaiswal took a stunning catch to send Hasan back to the pavilion.
The wicket of Zakir gave India early momentum, which Deep quickly built on. He struck again shortly, trapping Shadman Islam LBW with a delivery that straightened just enough to beat the bat. These twin strikes by Akash Deep injected a boost of energy into the Indian team while putting Bangladesh on the back foot.
Despite the double blow, Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mominul Haque stood their ground, determined to rebuild the innings. As the initial moisture in the pitch began to evaporate and the overhead conditions brightened, batting became slightly more manageable.
. Still, the Indian bowlers kept up the pressure, with Akash Deep in particular maintaining relentless lines and lengths that troubled the batsmen.
Shanto and Mominul, however, showed commendable resilience. Their unbeaten 45-run partnership was pivotal in steadying Bangladesh’s innings after the early dents. They faced everything the Indian bowlers threw at them, playing with a combination of cautious defense and the occasional boundary to keep the scoreboard ticking. Their efforts neutralized the immediate threat posed by India’s pace attack and ensured that no further damage was done before lunch.
Just as the session seemed to be settling into a rhythm, the weather once again intervened. As the lunch break approached, rain made another appearance, forcing the players to take an early break and bringing an end to what had been an absorbing session of Test cricket.
By lunch, Bangladesh had reached 74 for 2, with Najmul Hossain Shanto unbeaten on 28 and Mominul Haque on 17. Akash Deep’s figures stood out with a stellar 2 for 14, marking him as the pick of the bowlers for India in the session. The conditions had definitely posed a challenge, but Bangladesh’s top order showed grit and determination to come through it.
The early exchanges of this Test have set the stage for an intriguing battle. With the weather forecast remaining variable, and the pitch expected to continue assisting the bowlers, the onus will be on Bangladesh to push on and build a substantial first-innings total. Meanwhile, India will aim to capitalize on any chances the conditions offer to restrict their opponents and gain the upper hand.
Brief scores at lunch: Bangladesh 74-2 (Najmul Hossain Shanto 28*; Akash Deep 2-14) vs India
As cricket fans across both nations await the resumption of play, all eyes will be on the weather and on how these promising starts transform into the course of the match. With both teams having much at stake, the coming sessions promise to bring more thrills and spills, keeping the suspense alive in this gripping contest.