Welcome to the 38th Edition of The Cricket Diaries!

After a comprehensive win in the 1st Test in Chennai, the Indian team headed to Kanpur for the 2nd and final Test. At the toss, Indian captain Rohit Sharma chose to bowl first. Bangladesh reached 107-3 in 35 overs before the first day was called off due to incessant rain. The second day’s play was abandoned without a ball being bowled, and the third day was called off due to a wet outfield. Given the lost time, a draw seemed inevitable—but the Indian team had other plans.

Day 4: A Dramatic Turnaround

The Indian bowlers stole the show on Day 4, bowling Bangladesh out for 233. Mominul Haque stood out with a century, while no other Bangladeshi batsman managed more than 25 runs.

The Indian openers came out aggressively, with Rohit Sharma hitting two sixes off the first two balls, declaring India’s intent to win, not draw. Rohit was dismissed after scoring 23 off 11 balls, but Yashasvi Jaiswal took charge, smashing 72 off just 51 balls. Shubman Gill supported him with a solid 39 from 36 deliveries.

After the fall of the fourth wicket, Virat Kohli and out-of-form KL Rahul came together. While both are known for their classic batting style, they adapted to the situation, accelerating the run rate to meet the team’s needs. Rahul, in particular, regained his form, scoring a vital 68 off 43 balls, the highest strike rate in the innings. India declared at 285-9, leaving Bangladesh at 26-2 at the close of play.

Day 5: India Seals the Series

On Day 5, Indian bowlers once again showed their class. Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Jasprit Bumrah took three wickets each, restricting Bangladesh to 146 runs. With a 51-run lead from the first innings, India needed just 95 to win. Jaiswal’s half-century and a steady contribution from Kohli ensured a comfortable victory.

India won the match despite losing 2.5 days of play, completing a 2-0 series sweep and solidifying their position in the World Test Championship Final.

Rankings Update: Indian Players Soar in Test Cricket

Following this victory, several Indian players achieved career-best rankings:

• Yashasvi Jaiswal: 3rd in Test batting rankings (career-high)

• Virat Kohli: Moved up to 6th in Test batting rankings

• Jasprit Bumrah: Now the No.1 Test bowler

• Ravichandran Ashwin: Ranked 2nd among Test bowlers

• Ravindra Jadeja: Climbed to 6th in Test bowling rankings, while leading the all-rounders rankings alongside Ashwin

Axar Patel, who didn’t feature in the series, remains 7th in the all-rounders’ rankings.

Upcoming Action: India vs Bangladesh T20I Series

That’s a wrap for this edition of The Cricket Diaries! But don’t worry—there’s plenty more cricketing action on the horizon. The IND vs BAN 3-match T20I series starts on October 6, 2024.

Stay tuned for more updates on the Indian Cricket Team!

Best regards,

Ashutosh Nayak

Founder, The Cricket Diaries!