After two days of waiting, the Kanpur crowd finally witnessed some thrilling action on Day 4, as India’s batters made history. Having restricted Bangladesh to 233 earlier in the day, India adopted a T20 approach, coming out guns blazing in their first innings to score 285/9 before declaring. In doing so, they recorded the fastest 50, 100, and 200 runs in a Test innings. With a lead of 52 runs, India returned to the field to bowl, and reduced Bangladesh to 26/2 by the end of the day.
The highlight of the day was the way India batted. More than the runs they scored, it was about the pace at which those runs came. India racked up 285 runs in just 34.4 overs at a staggering run rate of 8.22, the highest for any innings exceeding 200 runs in Test history. India’s ultra-aggressive approach set up the Test beautifully, with the chance of a result becoming a reality. At the start of the day, with the match having seen just 35 overs, that was not even a possibility.
Yashasvi Jaiswal gave India’s innings an explosive start, hitting three boundaries in the opening over, while Rohit Sharma followed suit with two sixes in quick succession. They raced to 50 runs in just three overs, establishing a high-octane approach that the rest of the batting lineup mirrored. The hosts showed no signs of slowing down, as runs flowed freely from all directions. Alongside Jaiswal, KL Rahul also made a significant contribution, bolstered by key performances from Rohit, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill. However, conditions became more challenging after lunch, with variable bounce and turn complicating batting efforts. Amid the batting frenzy, Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan Miraz each claimed four wickets.
India began the day with a clear aggressive approach, setting attacking fields from the start. Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep opened the bowling, maintaining pressure with accurate lines and lengths.
Though there was no swing, both quicks managed to move the ball off the seam, often beating the outside edge. After several false shots, Mushfiqur Rahim misjudged a booming Bumrah inswinger and left it, only to see his stumps shattered. Clearly, he hadn’t learned from Shadman Islam, who got out in the previous game by leaving a ball on the stumps from Bumrah.
Litton Das came in with a positive intent, aiming to score after a quiet first 45 minutes of play. He took on Bumrah, hitting three boundaries in an over. However, just as a partnership between Mominul Haque and Litton seemed to be forming, Litton gifted his wicket away. Mohammed Siraj broke the stand, with Rohit taking a one-handed stunner at mid-off. It felt like an unnecessary charge from Litton, a momentary lapse in concentration.
Ravindra Jadeja was introduced earlier than Ravichandran Ashwin but couldn’t make a significant impact. Mominul, in particular, attacked Jadeja. Even when Ashwin came on, Mominul looked to score boundaries, using the sweep shot to great effect against the spin duo.
Shakib never appeared settled at the crease. He seemed eager to take on Ashwin but was deceived by the flight and ended up skewing a catch to Siraj, who took it brilliantly. Despite not playing for two days, the Indian fielders showed no signs of rust.
Mominul was dropped by Kohli at slip, but given the way he was playing, a bit of luck seemed deserved. While Jadeja struggled in his first spell, Ashwin was on target from his first ball. Recognising that there wasn’t much turn in the pitch, Ashwin bowled slower and deceived the batters in the air.
Mehidy and Mominul steadied the ship with some fine batting, adding 54 runs for the seventh wicket. This partnership frustrated the Indians, and, as he has done many times in his Test career, Bumrah provided the much-needed breakthrough by squaring up Mehidy. After that, it didn’t take long for India to finish off the innings, with Jadeja taking the final wicket to become the first Indian left-arm spinner to reach 300 in Tests.
Brief Scores: Bangladesh 233/10 (Mominul Haque 107*; Jasprit Bumrah 3-50) & 26/2 (Zakir Hasan 10; Ravichandran Ashwin 2/14) vs India 285/9 (Yashasvi Jaiswal 72; Mehidy Hasan Miraz 4/41). Bangladesh trail by 26 runs.