In one of the most unusual Test matches, India secured a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh on the fifth day after lunch in Kanpur, clinching the two-match series 2-0 and marking their 18th consecutive home series win.
Chasing a modest target of 95, India adopted a similar approach to their first innings. Rohit Sharma hit an early boundary to set the tone, but the Indian captain was soon dismissed by Mehidy Hasan as Bangladesh opened with spin from both ends.
Yashasvi Jaiswal (51) notched up his second half-century of the match, while Virat Kohli (29) contributed significantly to the chase, although Jaiswal was dismissed just before the win. Despite some deliveries keeping low, Bangladesh’s bowlers had little to work with against India’s aggressive batting. While the victory came in the second session of the final day, it was India’s dominance in the previous four sessions that truly defined the match.
The first three days of the Kanpur Test unfolded like a slow-burn thriller without the twist, as bad weather and a sluggish outfield hindered play. Only 35 overs were bowled on the opening day, with no further action until play resumed on the fourth day. At that point, Bangladesh were 107/3 on a surface that was hard to read. The black soil caused low bounce, but the damp conditions and overhead cloud cover provided plenty of movement for the pacers. Spin, of course, was inevitable as well.
Perhaps this uncertainty was why Rohit Sharma chose to bowl first after winning the toss. However, his bowlers didn’t fully capitalize during the brief first-day action. Jasprit Bumrah had an unusually off day, and Mohammed Siraj was inconsistent. It was Akash Deep’s two wickets that validated Rohit’s decision, with Ravichandran Ashwin also getting notable turn. Still, bad light, followed by rain and a wet outfield, made a draw seem like the most likely outcome.
That was until India shifted into top gear, pushing Bangladesh into a downward spiral of self-destruction.
The fourth morning began like any typical Test day, with Mominul Haque cruising comfortably toward his 13th Test century. The left-hander displayed calm and composure at the crease, seemingly untroubled. However, he lacked support from the other end. Veteran Mushfiqur Rahim’s dismissal—shouldering arms to a sharp nip-backer from Jasprit Bumrah—set the stage for India’s dominance. Bumrah rediscovered his rhythm, and the rest of the Indian bowlers contributed effectively. As a result, Mominul was left stranded, running out of partners.
Bangladesh’s dramatic collapse from 224-6 to 233 all out gave India the momentum they needed, as the hosts were eager to push the game forward and maximize their World Test Championship points. If India’s bowlers shone in the morning, their batters took it up a notch in the afternoon. On a pitch with low bounce that made strokeplay challenging, India’s batters delivered a remarkable display of aggressive cricket. Rohit Sharma set the tone with a quick cameo, but it was Yashasvi Jaiswal’s blistering 72 off 51 balls that led India’s charge.
As Mehidy later admitted during the press conference after day four, Bangladesh’s bowling attack was rattled by India’s relentless onslaught. Shubman Gill (39) and Virat Kohli (47) maintained the same aggressive intent, while KL Rahul (68) guided the charge with his dynamic strokeplay toward the end. Statistically, India faced 238 fewer deliveries than Bangladesh yet managed to finish with a 52-run lead. India’s remarkable scoring rate of 8.22 became a record for the highest innings run rate in Tests for any team with a score exceeding 200. This was just one of several records shattered, as India also recorded the fastest 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 in the format.
Declaring at the fall of the ninth wicket, India aimed to grab at least one wicket before the close of play—and they managed to get two, both courtesy of Ravichandran Ashwin. The off-spinner set up Zakir Hasan beautifully, using a combination of sliders and off-breaks to trap him LBW. Soon after, nightwatchman Hasan Mahmud attempted an ill-advised slog and was bowled, giving India a fitting conclusion to the day’s play. While Mahmud’s reckless stroke was surprising, the more seasoned Bangladesh batters were about to outdo him the following day.
Starting the day with a narrow 26-run deficit, Bangladesh’s immediate goal was to take the lead without losing any wickets. However, that plan quickly unraveled when first-innings centurion Mominul Haque fell to a smart strategy from Rohit Sharma and his team. Aware of Mominul’s tendency to sweep, they positioned a leg slip, preventing him from using the paddle shot. When Mominul attempted a hard sweep, the ball caught the face of the bat, and KL Rahul took a sharp catch at leg slip off Ravichandran Ashwin’s bowling.
Shadman Islam batted positively, driving crisply and finding boundaries with excellent timing. He defended solidly, left the ball well, and punished any loose deliveries. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto also looked settled as the duo put together a half-century partnership, keeping Bangladesh afloat in a tough situation. Then, Ravindra Jadeja was introduced into the attack, and he struck in his very first over. Shanto played a reckless reverse sweep, poorly executed, and was bowled around his legs. If Mahmud’s earlier shot was ill-advised for a tailender, Shanto’s risky stroke, coming from a specialist batter and captain, was inexcusable.
It was the breakthrough that opened the floodgates for India. Ravindra Jadeja quickly followed up by dismissing Litton Das, who nicked behind to a beauty, and Shakib Al Hasan, who offered a simple return catch. Shadman Islam, just after reaching his fifty, played a loose shot off the persistent Akash Deep. From a relatively stable 91/3, Bangladesh suddenly collapsed to 94/7, with India in full control. Jasprit Bumrah then made light work of the tail, removing Mehidy Hasan and Taijul Islam in quick succession. Mushfiqur Rahim held out briefly by farming the strike with last man Khaled Ahmed, but Bumrah eventually claimed his wicket just before the extended lunch break.
Chasing a modest target of 95, India’s victory was inevitable. Yashasvi Jaiswal made sure the chase was quick, sealing a memorable win for India. While the strength of the opposition and home conditions might downplay the achievement, India’s intent and determination to force a win under challenging circumstances made it significant.
Brief scores:
Bangladesh 233 and 146 (Shadman Islam 50, Mushfiqur Rahim 37; Jasprit Bumrah 3-17, Ravindra Jadeja 3-34)
India 285/9 decl. and 98/3 (Yashasvi Jaiswal 51; Mehidy Hasan 2-44)
India won by seven wickets.
