Team India registered a thrilling three-wicket win to strengthen their second position in the ICC World Test Championship 2021/23 against the spirited Bangladesh side played at Sher E Bangla Stadium, Mirpur, Dhaka on 25 December 2022.
Jaydev Unadkat was included in the playing XI after a gap of 12 years. After being asked to bowl first, the Indian bowlers skittled out Bangladesh for 227 in the first innings. In reply, the Indian top order struggled badly before Pant and Shreyas Iyer 159 runs partnership for the 5th wicket helped the Indian team take a decent lead.
There were some good performances that helped Team India recover from a tough position creating pressure on the Bangladesh team.
Here we look at the 3 top performers for Team India in the second Test against Bangladesh.
#1 Ravichandran Ashwin
Great game and a memorable win. #blessed #INDvsBAN pic.twitter.com/hhhW0PBRue
— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) December 25, 2022
The veteran all-rounder had a stellar role in helping Team India win the 2nd Test match. R Ashwin grabbed 4 wickets in the first innings on the first day helping Bangladesh to bowl out for 227. He took the wickets of Shanto, and Litton Das to begin with before dismissing Mominul Haque and Khaled Ahmed ending with figures of 4 for 71 in 21.3 overs.
He looked decent in the first innings scoring 12 runs before being dismissed by Shakib AL Hasan. Ashwin then showed his skills during the second essay getting rid of Shanto early on day 3. He looked out of sorts as Litton Das, Nurul Hasan and Taskin Ahmed showed intent. Ashwin then took the wicket of Taijul Islam as he ended with figures of 2 for 66 in 22 overs.
R Ashwin came to the crease with India struggling big time at 74 for 7. He was given a reprieve as Mominul Haque dropped a simple chance at short leg. After the chance, his performance stood out taking singles keeping the scoreboard ticking along with Shreyas Iyer.
He then showed intent and took on Bangladesh bowlers remaining not out on 42 off 62 balls with 4 fours and 1 six. Ravichandran Ashwin and Shreyas Iyer added unbeaten 71 runs for eight wickets to help the Indian team win the match by three wickets.
For his all-round performance with 6 wickets and 54 runs, the senior off-spinner was named the player of the match award. He has been the backbone of the Indian team in Test matches with ball and bat.
#2 Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer played a key role for India in this match. He came to the crease in the first innings with India struggling at 94 for 4. After being given missed stump chance by Nurul Hasan Shreyas kept the pressure on Bangladesh bowlers to complete a half-century off 60 balls maintaining pressure on the opposition.
He kept on hitting boundaries and sixes with ease in the 2nd session keeping pressure on Bangladesh bowlers. Shreyas was eventually dismissed for 87 off 105 balls with 10 boundaries and 2 sixes.
Shreyas Iyer came at the crease with India in trouble at 71 for 6. He looked composed against the spinners keeping the scoreboard ticking. After the initial spell, Shreyas Iyer took on Bangladesh spinners hitting some lovely boundaries to release pressure.
He and Ashwin added unbeaten 71 runs for the eighth wicket helping Team India register a three-wicket win. His knock of 29 not out consisted of four boundaries.
#3 Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Pant made a grand appearance to the crease in the first innings as India lost the wicket of Pujara with the scoreboard reading 72 for 3. After an initial drop chance by Liton Das at slips, Pant clobbered the Bangladeshi bowlers to all over the park.
Pant kept on hitting sixes at will putting the Bangladesh spinners under immense pressure. He reached fifty off just 49 balls. His attacking shots put hosts bowling struggling against Taijul, Shakib AL Hasan, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz.
He was eventually dismissed for a counter-attacking knock of 93 off 104 balls with 7 fours and 5 sixes at a strike rate of 89.42. Pant and Shreyas Iyer added 159 runs for the fifth wicket helping the Indian team take a decent lead. Pant came in the second innings after the fall of Jaydev Unadkat‘s wicket. He could not contribute much scoring just 9 runs.
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