The third day of the second Test match between India and Bangladesh at Green Park Stadium was declared abandoned on Sunday, with no play possible due to a wet outfield. Despite the absence of rain on the day, lingering wet patches remained, particularly in the bowler’s run-up area, preventing the game from commencing. This unfortunate situation followed a rain-affected second day, which also saw no action.
Implications for India’s World Test Championship Journey
India’s inability to secure a win in this match could complicate their path to a potential third consecutive appearance in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final in the UK. To maintain their position, India will need to achieve substantial victories in their upcoming matches. They are scheduled to face New Zealand in a three-match Test series starting October 16 and will then take on Australia in a five-Test series away from home beginning November 22. Currently, India leads the WTC standings with seven wins, two losses, and one draw from ten matches.
Recap of Previous Days’ Action
The first day of the Test was also marred by rain, allowing Bangladesh to play only 35 overs, during which they scored 107 runs for the loss of three wickets. Mominul Haque remained not out on 40, accompanied by wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim, who was on 6.
Indian pacer Akash Deep made an impressive start, taking two quick wickets—removing Zakir Hasan (0) and Shadman Islam (24 off 36 balls with four boundaries)—to leave Bangladesh at 29 for two. A partnership of 51 runs followed between skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto and Haque, before Shanto was dismissed by Ravichandran Ashwin for 31 runs off 57 balls, including six fours.
In the first Test, India had convincingly won by 280 runs, setting a challenging target of 515 runs for Bangladesh, who were bowled out for just 234. Key performances included Ravichandran Ashwin, who scored 113 runs and took six wickets for 88 runs, while Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant contributed 119 not out and 109 runs, respectively. Jasprit Bumrah also played a crucial role, taking four wickets for 50 runs in the first innings and one for 24 in the second.
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.