Captain Suryakumar Yadav and Sanju Samson are seen during the third T20 international against Bangladesh in Hyderabad on October 12, 2024
| Photo Credit: K.R. Deepak

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Indian batsmen were on a rampage and took the Bangladesh bowlers by the scruff of the neck and scored a massive 297 for 6 during their thrid and final T20 international in Hyderabad on Saturday (October 12, 2024).

India finished second in the highest total of the Twenty20 Internationals behind Nepal’s 314 for 3 which they scored in the Asian Games 2023 against Mongolia.

India lost Abhishek Sharma (4) with the score at 23 in 2.1 overs. Then it was Sanju Samson (111 off 47 balls) and captain Suryakumar Yadav (75 off 35 balls) who started to score freely and punished Bangladesh bowlers all round the park.

After the loss of both Samson and Suryakumar, Riyan Parag (34 off 13 balls) and Hardik Pandya (47 off 18 balls) continued from where they left and scored freely. Each and every Bangladesh bowler went for runs.

Among Bangladesh bowlers, Mahmudullah (1 for 26), Mustafizur Rahman (1 for 51) and Tazim Hasan Sakib (3 for 66) were the wicket-takers.

India’s previous highest score in T20 internationals was 260 for 5 against Sri Lanka in 2017.

Virat Kohli greets Shakib Al Hasan after India’s win over Bangladesh in Kanpur on October 1, 2024
| Photo Credit: AFP

Indian batting superstar Virat Kohli gifted one of his signed bats to the soon-to-be retired Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan after the home side completed a 2-0 Test series sweep over the visitors in Kanpur on Tuesday (October 1, 2024),

Shakib, who played his last overseas Test in Kanpur, has already made it clear that he wouldn’t play the home series against South Africa unless the current caretaker government in Bangladesh can assure his smooth passage out of the country.

After the second Test ended in Kanpur with India winning by seven wickets, Kohli was seen walking towards the Bangladesh team and handing over his bat to Bangladesh’s greatest ever cricketer.

The duo was seen exchanging pleasantries and sharing a laugh as Shakib did a bit of shadow driving with the willow.

Shakib is a popular cricketer in India, having played 71 IPL matches, mainly for Kolkata Knight Riders and also a few for the Sunrsiers Hyderabad.

Currently, Shakib is facing a murder charge back home levelled against him during the civil unrest that led to former PM Sheikh Hasina’s ouster. Shakib was a member of parliament from Hasina’s party the Awami League.

The current regime in Bangladesh is not too keen on giving a farewell to Shakib with the current Bangladesh Cricket Board president Farukh Ahmed, saying that his organisation was not a security agency.

In such a scenario, Kanpur could well end up being Shakib’s 71st and last Test match. He is supposed to retire completely from international cricket after the Champions Trophy next year.

Shakib currently resides in the USA.

Mayank Yadav who has been on the sidelines since April 30 after suffering an injury during the IPL 2024 will be returning to the Indian squad for the T20Is against Bangladesh.
| Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini

India’s fastest bowler Mayank Yadav on Saturday (September 28, 2024) got fast-tracked into the Indian team for the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh after completing his near five-month rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy.

The team set to be led by Suryakumar Yadav only has one more senior — former T20I skipper Hardik Pandya — in its ranks as all the recent IPL performers have been selected.

Mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, who plays for Kolkata Knight Riders, got a recall after three years since his nightmarish T20 World Cup campaign in the UAE in 2021.

Nitish Reddy, the back-up seamer all-rounder after Pandya and Shivam Dube, also got a look-in after he missed out on the recent Zimbabwe tour owing to an injury.

The talented players like Riyan Parag, Abhishek Sharma, Harshit Rana have all found a place in the 15-man squad that has Jitesh Sharma as the second keeper behind Sanju Samson.

The biggest surprise is certainly the inclusion of Mayank, who consistently bowled mid-150 clicks for Lucknow Super Giants during three of his four IPL matches including back-to-back Player of the Match awards which garnered global attention.

It was during mid-IPL, the 22-year-old Mayank, who hails from Delhi, was ruled out due to lower abdominal strain.

Such has been his talent that he was wrapped in cotton wool with an extensive rehabilitation programme and of late has been bowling 14-15 overs per day at the NCA.

However, it is believed that before being unleashed into red ball format in Ranji Trophy, Bangladesh series is the best opportunity for the national selection committee and head coach Gautam Gambhir to check out how he is coping at the international level with only four overs to bowl.

If his body holds up well, they might slowly draft him into the longer formats as he is considered a prospect who will serve Indian cricket for the longest time.

Chakravarthy, a vital cog in KKR’s victorious IPL campaign under Gambhir’s mentorship, was overlooked as recently as the tour to Zimbabwe and also Sri Lanka despite an impressive 21 wickets from 14 games.

However, it is understood that Gambhir was very keen on having Chakravarthy, who mainly bowls fast leg-breaks along with a deceptive wrong ‘un.

India will play three T20Is in Gwalior (October 6), New Delhi (October 9) and Hyderabad (October 12) against Najmul Hossain Shanto’s Bangladesh.

India squad for the Bangladesh T20Is:

Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Rinku Singh, Hardik Pandya, Riyan Parag, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakaravarthy, JItesh Sharma (wk), Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Mayank Yadav.

Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto on Sunday (September 22, 2024) threw his weight behind the struggling Shakib Al Hasan and said the country’s greatest all-rounder is doing everything in his capacity to regain his form with the ball.

In the opening match against India at Chepauk, which Bangladesh lost by a huge margin of 280 runs, the 37-year-old Shakib logged his most expensive bowling figures in his Test career, leaking 129 runs in 21 overs while failing to take a single wicket across two innings.

It was the fifth time in his career that he went wicketless in a Test match after bowling at least 20 overs.

“Very brave question. Masha Allah!” the Bangladesh skipper responded when asked about a struggling Shakib’s place in the Test team.

“As a captain, honestly, I look at how much hard work a player is putting into his game.

He (Shakib) is doing everything possible to get his form back,” Shanto told reporters at the post-match press conference.

“Whether he is struggling enough to make a comeback (for me what is important is that) what is their intention towards the team and how much he is willing to give to the team,” he said.

“I look at these things mainly. Some people might think that I am saying it because the question is about Shakib bhai. I try to look at everyone in the same way, whether it is, from Nahid Rana to Mushfiq bhai.

“More than whether he is scoring runs or not, I look at how is his preparation. What is his thinking about the team. I am happy with the way that every member of this Test squad has prepared and been willing to give to the team,” the skipper added.

Shanto justified his decision to not bowl Shakib enough in the first innings as the pacers were doing their job well.

“I didn’t really need him (Shakib) in the first innings, seeing how the three pace bowlers were doing. Miraz too was bowling well. It was my plan to keep the fast bowlers on for longer. We took six wickets quickly too,” he said.

While commentating, former India left-arm spinner Murali Kartik revealed that Shakib had discomfort on his spinning finger and shoulder, having undergone a surgery on his bowling finger.

The Bangladesh star suffered a left index finger injury during the ODI World Cup last year, and sat out for the match against India during the tournament due to a shoulder issue.

Shanto said, “His ( Shakib’s) finger was taped. He was bleeding from his finger from the last time he was hit there.

“I don’t feel comfortable talking about a player’s individual performance. This is a team game, and only a whole team’s contribution makes it possible to win a game.”

‘We have to focus on our strengths’

Despite the hammering they received in the opener of the two-match series, Shanto expressed confidence of a comeback in the second game in Kanpur.

“They (India) have all quality bowlers — spin and pace both, but we cannot think too much about their strength,” he told reporters during the post-match press conference.

“We have to really focus on our strengths and believe in ourselves about how we can contribute to the team. I believe there are a lot of experienced players in our side, and I hope they will come back stronger.” Speaking about the learnings from this Test, Shanto said it was essential for their top- order to fire but the batters just caved in in their first innings, which dashed his team’s hopes of challenging the formidable hosts.

“I think it was very important learning wise. In first innings batting, especially top of the order, we must be a little careful as we need to put in some runs.

“And, going forward, I think all the batters think that they can bounce back. So, we will see.” Starting from their overnight 158 for four on the fourth morning, Bangladesh were bundled out for 234 in their second innings as Ravichandran Ashwin scythed through their line-up with brilliant figures of 6/88.

“Today, I think the morning session was very tough. The way all the (Indians) bowlers bowled was really well,” he continued.

“But, I think Shakib batted really well, and we tried to contribute to the team by trying to bat as long as we could, and that is one positive thing about today’s morning session. After that, I think we didn’t bat well.” Shanto was Bangladesh’s top-scorer with 82 in the team’s second innings.

“The way I batted — that is how I bat, especially in these conditions and against quality spinners. I was very clear with my plans. I think everyone has a different plan, and I hope they will plan differently next match,” he signed off.

Captain Rohit Sharma greets Ravichandran Ashwin after India’s win over Bangladesh during the first Test at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, in Chennai on September 22, 2024.
| Photo Credit: R. Ragu

Indian captain Rohit Sharma on Sunday (September 22, 2024) emphasised on building his team around “strong bowling options” in order to take the conditions out of the equation as they gear up for the challenges that lay ahead in the run-up to the World Test Championship.

Riding on a brilliant all-round performance, India cantered to a massive 280-run victory in the first Test against Bangladesh with five sessions to spare.

Senior off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin completed a memorable all-round outing with a six-wicket haul as a dominant India crushed Bangladesh, after Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill struck fluent hundreds.

“We want to build our team around strong bowling options, we have to be ready to face whatever the conditions offer,” Rohit said at the post-match presentation.

“No matter what the conditions are, whether we play in India, whether we play outside, we want to build the team around that.

“In the last few years, wherever we have played, we have managed to have that in the armoury, whether it is seam bowling options or spin bowling options,” the skipper added.

Set an improbable target of 515, Bangladesh were bowled out for 234 in their second innings, with first-inning centurion Ashwin (6/88) doing the bulk of the damage at the his home ground at the Chepauk.

“It was a great result looking at what lies ahead for us. We are playing after a long time, but you are never out of cricket. We came here a week before, we had a good lead up to the Test match and we got the result that we wanted,” Rohit said.

The captain was delighted with the manner in which Pant marked his return to Test cricket, scoring his sixth hundred in the traditional format. It hasn’t been easy for Pant, and his skipper acknowledged that.

“He’s been through some really tough times. The way he has managed himself through those tough times was superb to watch. He came back in the IPL, followed by a very successful World Cup and this is the format he loves the most.

“For us, it was never about what is he going to do with the bat, we always knew what he had with the bat and with the gloves as well. It was just about giving him the game time.

“Credit to him as well, he went on to play Duleep Trophy and got ready for this Test match and had an impact straightaway in the game.” India declared their second innings at 287 for 4 for an overall lead of 514.

Rohit said, “You have to give credit to the guys, whenever there is a responsibility, they never shy away from it and they want to put their hand up and get the job done for the team.”

The India captain said it was all about staying patient with the match being played on a red soil pitch.

“The red soil pitch always has something to offer. You need to have a little bit of patience as well. You don’t see much happening straightaway. This was a pitch where we had to show a lot of patience whether we bat or bowl.

“We were patient enough with the bat to get those big runs and then with the ball as well we were patient enough to hit the right areas and put them under pressure consistently.” Ashwin, who turned it around for India with his magnificent century in the company of Ravindra Jadeja after the home team was reeling at 144 for six in the first innings, received accolades form his skipper.

“Every time we look up to him, he’s always there for us whether with the bat or ball. I don’t know if I speak here, it’ll be enough of what he does for this team.

“Every time we see him come out and do the job, it’s always so brilliant. He’s never out of the game.

“The last competitive cricket he played was IPL and then he had some fun playing TNPL. We watched him bat up the order and that’s what helped him as well to bat the way he did,” Rohit said.

Ravichandran Ashwin in action on day 4 of the first Test against Bangladesh at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on September 22, 2024.
| Photo Credit: R. Ragu

At 38, R. Ashwin is probably in the final phase of his career.

And with India set to host only four Tests next year (two each against South Africa and West Indies), it remains to be seen whether Chennai will get another Test soon if the usual rotation policy for venues applies.

In case Ashwin doesn’t get to add to his tally of five Tests here, the wily off-spinner can peacefully ride into the sunset knowing he scored a century, took a six-wicket haul and was the Player-of-the-Match in his final outing at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium.

When asked if the game against Bangladesh that ended on Sunday could be his last one in his home town, Ashwin pondered and then explained how hard it is to predict the next Test match or the series. At the same time, he also seemed at peace if it turned out to be his final bow at Chepauk.

“Yeah, quite a good question. I don’t know. What is swansong? Every time you walk out to the park, it is a swansong. You are talking about a Test match. Maybe or maybe not. Who knows,” remarked Ashwin, who clinched his 10th Player-of-the-Match award.

“Every day, every Test match I play is a big thing. Not only for me, for cricketers to go through a Test match or a series is a grind. You never know what is next regarding Tests. Because you put in that effort and must be lucky enough to get those performances, work hard, and manage your ups and downs simultaneously.”

“These are all huge challenges for any Test cricketer. So, I haven’t thought so far ahead, but if that was my swansong (in Chennai), what a swansong,” he added.

In what has already been an eventful year in terms of records, Ashwin went past Courtney Walsh’s tally of 519 scalps and is now eighth on the all-time list with 522 wickets. On how he keeps reinventing himself, Ashwin conceded it was getting challenging.

“It’s not the same as when you are 25, 30 or even 35. 38 is different to 35. Every bit of work that you put in, you have to put it doubly hard to earn the right to be there. There are challenges for me to go through. Usually, it takes a little bit longer. I just wanted to enjoy my game and be the best that I can be. I am not ambitious and want to play as long as I can,” Ashwin elaborated.

The Tamil Nadu player also said he did not want to think too far into the future, ahead of a long season with nine more Tests scheduled.

“When you look so far ahead, it can be quite deflating. You have to stack it up. There are good breaks between games. More than skill, I think it is about physically being able to go through the season, which is of utmost importance to me right now,” said Ashwin.

Bangladesh’s head coach Chandika Hathurusingha speaks during a press conference at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on September 17, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AFP

Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha remarked that the current squad is the most well-rounded and expressed confidence that his side can trouble the host.

“I think this is probably the most well-rounded team Bangladesh has produced in my previous (stint) and this time. Our balance in this series is good, and that gives us a lot more confidence that we can be competitive in this series,” said Hathurusingha.

“We have got good fast bowlers and an experienced spin attack. We have batting depth for two reasons: two of our spinners are genuine batters who have Test hundreds, and then two of our wicket-keepers are also our main batters,” the Sri Lankan coach added.

Big positive

Commenting on the positives from the recent 2-0 win in Pakistan, the coach highlighted the team’s ability to fight back from adversity more than the outcome as the big positive.

“It certainly gives us a lot of confidence coming into this series. Not because of the outcome of that series but because of the way we played and handled certain situations. We were behind the game in both Tests but how we came back and the people who contributed at different times gives us a lot of belief for this series,” he explained.

When asked if the weight of expectations can put pressure on his side, the former Sri Lanka cricketer said it was a good position to be in while taking on one of the toughest challenges in world cricket.

Pressure is a privilege

“Pressure is a privilege. I mean, it gives us a lot more belief and something to look forward to as well. But then we understand where we stand and our strengths and limitations.”

“We are encouraged by playing the best team in the world. Coming to India and playing against India that’s the best challenge you get nowadays in cricket. So playing against the best always gives you the perception of where you stand,” remarked Hathurusingha.

India skipper Rohit Sharma said the team management will be prudent in managing the workload of the fast bowlers ahead of a busy Test schedule in which the team will play 10 matches in the next four months.

“We will always keep that in our mind. You want your best players to play all the games, but that’s not possible because there is so much cricket that happens,” said Rohit to a question about whether the pacers will be rotated through the five home Tests (two vs Bangladesh and three vs New Zealand).

Following the two home assignments, India travels to Australia for five Tests in November and will need its pace battery in shape for the nearly two-month-long tour.

“We have laid out some plans for managing these bowlers. But again, it all depends on their workload in these games. We will monitor that. I think we have done that pretty well. Even when we played against England, we managed to get (Jasprit) Bumrah one Test match off. We managed to give Siraj one Test match off. So it all depends on how their body feels at that particular time, what the S&C (coaches) and the physios feel about them, and when is the right time to give them a break.”

With India playing a Test after six months, the skipper felt the mini-camp the team had here over the last few days had been very useful for the players to get back into red-ball cricket rhythm.

“It’s not easy when you don’t play for six to eight months. But the good thing is a lot of guys in the squad are quite experienced. It is not the first time this has happened where we have not played cricket for four or five months and returned. It has happened previously as well, which is why it was important for us to have this little camp over here in Chennai,” said the 38-year-old.

“We assembled here on the 12th and had a good time spending hours on the field, getting everything together. People are so experienced, and they manage themselves pretty well. And guys who have not played a lot of Test cricket went on to play the Duleep Trophy, which was good. So, in terms of preparation and readiness, I feel we are quite ready for this game and what lies ahead of us.”

We don’t need to create a whole different strategy for Bangladesh: Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma asserted that there is no need to devise a new strategy in the upcoming series against Bangladesh, despite their impressive recent triumph over Pakistan and the presence of express pacer Nahid Rana in the visitors’ ranks.

Bangladesh defeated Pakistan 2-0 in their first win over the latter in a Test series but Rohit did not read too much into it.

“Every team wants to beat India. They take some pride in it. Let them have fun. Our job is to think about how to win the matches. We don’t ponder about what the opponent team is thinking about us,” said Rohit in the pre-match press meet.

“India has played cricket against almost every top team in the world. So, there’s no need to create a whole different strategy,” added Rohit.

The Mumbaikar was also not worried about pacer Rana, who can comfortably touch 150 clicks, but, rather than an individual, Bangladesh team as a whole remained his focal point.

“See, there will be a couple of new guys in the side. But all you can do is to think about them and move forward. The same would be the plan against Bangladesh, i.e. to focus on our gameplay,” he noted.

In that context, Rohit remarked that managing the workload of bowlers, particularly that of the pacers, will remain a top priority for him as the season contains a total of 10 Tests, including a high-value Border-Gavaskar series against Australia from November.

“You want your best players to play all the games, but that’s not possible because there is so much cricket. It is not only Test cricket, there is a T20 cricket happening in the middle of the Test series as well. So, you got to manage your bowlers around it.

“We have laid out some plans, as to how we are going to manage these bowlers. But yeah, we have done that pretty well. Even when we played against England, we managed to give (Jasprit) Bumrah one Test match off.” The captain was also excited to see some fresh talents like Yash Dayal and Akash Deep, both of them are part of the Indian team here, emerging and doing well in domestic competitions like Duleep Trophy.

“We have got a lot of bowlers who are there for us. You know, we saw the Duleep Trophy, like some exciting prospects there as well. So, yeah, I am not too worried about, you know, (because) the kind of bowlers who are waiting in the wings for us,” he added.

Rohit and the team management will also have to keep some of the young talents like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sarfaraz Khan and Dhruv Jurel wrapped in cotton wool after experiencing some early success in top-flight cricket.

However, Rohit said these players have a mature head on their young shoulders.

“Honestly, we don’t need to speak too much to them. Jaiswal, Jurel, Sarfaraz, all of them… we saw glimpses of what they can do. So, they have everything that is required to be a top player for India in all three forms.

“Obviously we have to nurture them and we have to keep talking to them. But at the end of the day, you know, when you’re playing a sport like this, it all depends on what you think in your mind.

“I think they’re very clear with what they want to do. They’re very hungry to play cricket for India and be successful,” he elaborated.

Rohit said the fearless yet responsible approach of these players have made the team management’s task of handling them a lot easier.

“Jaiswal had a great series (against England at home. Jurel showed what he is capable of with the bat. Getting those runs and in tough situations was good…you know, being fearless and not worrying too much about what happens outside.

“So, you need all kinds of players these days. It’s not about just having one sort of player. You need all sorts of players who are fearless, and who are cautious at the same time. You know, responsible as well. I think we have that mix of everything, which is a good sign,” he explained.

In fact, the series against Bangladesh will be India’s first outing in the traditional format after the home rubber against England earlier this year, in which they won 4-1.

Rohit admitted that returning to red-ball cricket after a lengthy hiatus was not easy but pinned his confidence on the preparatory camp the team had here ahead of the rubber against Bangladesh.

“It’s not easy when you don’t play (red-ball cricket) for a period of 6-8 months. But, see, the good thing is that a lot of guys in the squad are quite experienced. It (long gap) has happened previously as well, which is why it was important for us to have this little camp over here in Chennai,” he said.

The 37-year-old said the Duleep Trophy ahead of this series was a blessing for some of the players like Rishabh Pant and Sarafaraz Khan, who have not played much cricket in the last few months.

“We assembled here on the 12th and we’ve had a good time spending hours on the field, getting everything together. Yeah, it is tough, but see, now people can manage themselves pretty well.

“The guys who have not played a lot of Tests went on to play the Duleep Trophy, which was good. So, in terms of preparation, in terms of readiness, I feel, you know, we are quite ready for this game and what lies ahead of us,” he signed off.

(With inputs from PTI)

Team India began their practice session ahead of the first Test against Bangladesh at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, in Chennai on September 13, 2024. Photo: X/@BCCI

ndia began its preparation for the two-Test series against Bangladesh at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Friday. The opening game begins here on September 19, kick-starting a gruelling winter schedule in the longest format for Rohit Sharma’s men. In the next four months, India will play 10 matches against three opponents and look to seal its third straight World Test Championship final berth.

After the second Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur (Sept. 27 to Oct. 1), India will host New Zealand for a three-match series next month. In November, the team will travel to Australia for five Tests as it chases a hat-trick of series triumphs Down Under and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy it has held since 2017.

The entire squad, barring Sarfaraz Khan (busy in the Duleep Trophy), sweated it out in the middle for close to five hours under the watchful eyes of the coaching staff.

Newly appointed bowling coach and former South Africa pacer Morne Morkel had his first day at the office, keenly observing the session throughout the day.

In the morning session, Rohit, Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill got going, batting on the practice pitches on either side of the main square.

Ravindra Jadeja and R. Ashwin then joined for a lengthy session with the willow after their bowling stints. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, too, spent more than half an hour sharpening their batting skills.

There were almost a dozen net bowlers, including spinner Varun Chakravarthy. One of the training pitches was a black soil type with pronounced footmarks and the spinners operated primarily on this; the pacers bowled predominantly on the red soil surface at the other side of the square.

In the afternoon session, the second batch of K.L. Rahul, Dhruv Jurel, Rishabh Pant and Axar Patel joined the action while Morkel monitored pacers Yash Dayal and Akash Deep.

Bangladesh is travelling to India following a historic 2-0 sweep of Pakistan in the latter’s backyard earlier this month, and will look to pose a stiff challenge to the hosts.