Shamik Chakrabarty in Kanpur
The first day of the second Test between India and Bangladesh here in Kanpur was a damp squib. Overnight rain forced a delayed start by an hour and then, around three o’clock in the afternoon, the heavens opened again. The day’s play was called off. Only 35 overs were bowled, and Bangladesh moved to 107/3 after being sent in.
Just 35 overs could be judged as a small sample size to lay into India’s team selection. The hosts retained the winning combination from Chennai, and didn’t include an extra spinner. Did they miss a trick by not playing Kuldeep Yadav?
Overhead conditions played a major role in India going with three fast bowlers. The team’s assistant coach Abhishek Nayar had said as much on match eve. “With the conditions and the forecast, it is going to be interesting as to how, when we turn up, to go in the morning,” Nayar had said. “A lot will depend on that because as you know in Test cricket, conditions can be a huge factor in how the pitch plays.”
The cloud cover and the presence of three fast bowers prompted Rohit Sharma to bowl first after winning the toss. Tiger Pataudi did it against England at this venue in 1964. And Rohit became only the second India captain to send the opposition in after winning the toss at Green Park.
The first ball of the match, from Jasprit Bumrah, bounced twice before reaching Rishabh Pant behind the stumps. It’s a typical Kanpur pitch, slow and without any disconcerting bounce. Moisture on the surface made it even slower. There was some initial movement off the deck but the seamers weren’t getting any special purchase. Stroke-making wasn’t easy either. Zakir Hasan departed for a 24-ball duck. Credit to Akash Deep that he still beat Shadman Islam for pace and trapped him leg-before.
After just seven overs, Ravichandran Ashwin was brought into the attack. The odd ball gripped due to the moisture on the surface, but there was not much turn either. This pitch is likely to play slower and lower as the match progresses, and the bowlers will have to use their guile to get the better of the batsmen. Ashwin did it to dismiss Najmul Hossain Shanto. The Bangladesh captain played for the turn, but the off-spinner made the ball hold its line.
Coming back to Kuldeep, with his variety and his ability to outfox opposition batsmen, he probably would have been a better choice, at the expense of a fast bowler. The left-arm wrist-spinner can turn the ball on any surface and offers a cutting edge, irrespective of conditions. Also, it is his home turf, adding to the advantage.
Take the case of Mohammed Siraj; he bowled seven overs without much impact. Once again, he was a couple of feet short, a reason why he missed the outside edge when he beat the bat. India getting swayed by overhead conditions, however, is nothing new.
In the 2023 World Test Championship final against Australia, they picked Shardul Thakur as the fourth seamer and chose to bowl first on a good Oval pitch. The game started under an overcast sky, influencing India’s decision. But the sun came out in full glory after an hour of play and the pitch became flatter. Travis Head hammered an ineffectual Indian bowling attack and set up Australia’s 209-run win. From India’s point of view, Ashwin’s omission was inexplicable.
Weather permitting, India will probably still win the Kanpur Test because there’s a gulf in class between the two sides. But maybe, they have given overhead conditions a little too much importance.
Also read:
Rain and bad light limit play to just 35 overs on Day 1 in Kanpur. Despite tricky conditions, Bangladesh put up 107/3, with Mominul Haque unbeaten on 40.
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