On the fifth morning of the second Test in Kanpur, India made significant progress towards clinching a victory over Bangladesh. The visiting team’s collapse, losing eight wickets in just the first session, set the stage for an inevitable triumph by India. This collapse left India needing just 95 runs to secure a win in the Test match, a target that seemed well within reach given the host’s current form.
The final day’s highlight was the formidable bowling performance by India’s Jasprit Bumrah (3-17) and Ravindra Jadeja (3-50). Their disciplined line and length were key, but Bangladesh’s batsmen contributed to their own downfall through poor shot selection. With the exception of Shadman Islam, who scored a resilient 50, and Mushfiqur Rahim, who added 37, the Bangladesh batting order showed little intent to resist India’s attack.
Entering the day’s play with a narrow deficit of 26 runs, Bangladesh aimed to establish a lead without losing early wickets. Their plans, however, unraveled quickly. Mominul Haque, who had scored a century in the first innings, was out due to a well-executed piece of strategy by Rohit Sharma and his team. Anticipating Mominul’s penchant for the sweep shot, they positioned a leg slip, forcing him to reconsider his shots. Sticking with his preference, Mominul attempted a paddle sweep but ended up swept off his feet by a precise Ravichandran Ashwin delivery, which KL Rahul eagerly caught at leg slip.
Despite the early setback, Bangladesh briefly steadied their innings. Shadman Islam played with aggression and timing, dispatching several boundaries and displaying solid defense. His efforts were complemented by captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, as the pair constructed a resilient half-century partnership, seemingly steadying the Bangladesh ship amidst a brewing storm.
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However, when Ravindra Jadeja was finally introduced into the attack, the balance of the game shifted dramatically. Jadeja became an immediate agent of Bangladesh’s demise, beginning with the dismissal of Shanto. A poorly executed reverse sweep from Shanto found him bowled around his legs, a pivotal moment that opened the floodgates for India’s bowlers. Jadeja capitalized on the momentum, with Litton Das edging behind soon after and Shakib Al Hasan falling meekly to a return catch, symbolizing the avalanche of wickets that followed.
Bangladesh’s position crumbled further as Shadman, fresh off reaching his fifty, fell to a wayward drive against Akash Deep’s relentless pace. The score now read a perilous 91 for 3, quickly spiraling to 94 for 7, with an Indian victory looming on the horizon. Jasprit Bumrah then made swift work of the tail, dispatching Mehidy Hasan and Taijul Islam in quick succession.
Mushfiqur Rahim, displaying grit and determination, managed to linger at the crease, staging a minor resistance alongside the last man, Khaled Ahmed. However, with India needing two more wickets before lunch, the session was extended by another half-hour. Rahim chipped away at the lead, aiming to tide through the session, but his efforts were thwarted by Bumrah’s splendid bowling. Delivering a deceptive off-cutter—his signature move—Bumrah rattled Rahim’s stumps with the last ball of the session, leaving Rahim undone by an ambitious drive.
As the dust settled on Bangladesh’s innings at 146, India found themselves in an undeniably strong position to complete the formal victory rituals. The brief scores for the match stood as a testament to India’s dominant performance: Bangladesh 233 and 146 (Shadman Islam 50, Mushfiqur Rahim 37; Jasprit Bumrah 3-17, Ravindra Jadeja 3-34) against India’s formidable first innings of 285/9 declared (Yashasvi Jaiswal 72, KL Rahul 68; Mehidy Hasan 4-41, Shakib Al Hasan 4-78). With just 94 runs required for victory, India was on the cusp of a well-deserved Test match win, their bowlers having set the stage.