Indian players celebrate after their win over Bangladesh in the first Test against Bangladesh in Chennai, on September 22, 2024.
| Photo Credit: R. Ragu

A dominant India tightened their grip on the top spot in the World Test Championship table with a 280-run victory over Bangladesh, while Sri Lanka saw off New Zealand in Galle to help their move towards a potential spot in the final at Lord’s next year.

The two results have led to shifts in the race for the two final spots, with Sri Lanka leapfrogging their current opponents into third spot.

India’s win in Chennai and the 12 WTC points reasserts their status at the top of the table, moving to a percentage of 71.67%, extending their lead on Australia in second (62.50%).

Bangladesh, who had jumped to the fourth position following an exceptional 2-0 win against Pakistan, drop to sixth place place (point percentage of 39.29%) behind Sri Lanka and England after the defeat.

Bangladesh started the fourth day at 158/4 in pursuit of India’s 515, with skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto and Shakib Al Hasan at the crease. The duo resisted briefly, though India’s spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja wiped claimed the remaining six wickets for just 40 runs.

Ashwin won the Player of the Match award for his brilliant hundred in the first innings and six-for in the second innings.

Moving to third on the WTC25 table after victory in Galle, Sri Lanka stand the best chance of challenging the 2023 World Test Championship finalists for a spot in the 2025 final.

The 63-run victory over the Black Caps in Galle was their fourth in eight matches, moving them an even 50% of possible World Test Championship points, with a best possible percentage of 69.23% for Dhananjaya de Silva’s men.

That figure would likely be enough for a chance of lifting the mace in next year’s finale at Lord’s, though the side would need to beat New Zealand once more, claim a clean sweep of South Africa, and beat Australia 2-0 at home in a series early next year.

The Indians still have nine Tests remaining in this WTC cycle to decide their fate and make it to their third consecutive final of the tournament. They had ended as the runners-up in the previous two editions — to New Zealand (2021) and Australia (2023).

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)