India’s captain Rohit Sharma plays a shot during a ODI cricket match of the ICC Champions Trophy between India and Bangladesh, at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, in Dubai, UAE, Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025.
| Photo Credit: PTI

India captain Rohit Sharma on Thursday became the second fastest batter after compatriot Virat Kohli to complete 11,000 runs in One-day Internationals during their Champions Trophy clash against Bangladesh here.

Rohit is only the fourth Indian and 10th batter overall to reach the mark in the 50-over format.

The skipper achieved the feat in the fourth over of India’s chase of 229 in their Group A match when he hit Mustafizur Rahman over mid-on for a boundary.

The seasoned opener reached the mark in his 270th game, and is the second fastest behind Kohli to cross 11,000 runs in terms of innings.

Kohli had crossed the 11,000-run mark in 222 innings while Rohit has brought up that many runs in 261 innings. In this list, they are followed by the legendary Sachin Tendulkar (276 innings), Ricky Ponting (286) and Sourav Ganguly (288).

Rohit is now placed behind former India captain Ganguly (11,363 runs) in the list of overall highest run-scorers in ODI cricket, with Tendulkar cemented firmly at the top position with 18,246 runs in 463 matches.

Kohli, who has 13,963 runs in his 299 ODIs, entered this game only 37 short of becoming only the third player in the history to make 14,000 runs in 50-overs cricket.

In terms of most ODI runs, former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara is placed second with 14,234 runs in 404 matches.

One of the most successful batters in the format at the top of the order, Rohit is also second in the list of hitting most sixes with 338 hits over the fence behind Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi (351).

Rohit averages nearly 50 in the format with 32 centuries and 52 half-centuries.

In the list of highest run-scorers, Rohit is followed by former captains Rahul Dravid (10,889 runs) and MS Dhoni (10,773), with India having as many as six batters in an overall list of 15 batters to have crossed the coveted 10,000-run mark in ODI cricket.

Indian Assistant Coach Ryan ten Doeschate, speaking during the press conference ahead of the third T20 match between India and Bangladesh, at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Uppal, in Hyderabad on Friday, October 11, 2024.
| Photo Credit: K.R Deepak

With the series in the bag, India could experiment with the playing eleven in the third and final T20I against Bangladesh here on Saturday (October 12, 2024).

Thus far in the series, fast bowler Harshit Rana, batter Tilak Verma, spinner Ravi Bishnoi and wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma have yet to get a game.

India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate stated that these new faces could get a look in. “There is nice depth in the squad. A lot of our guys have IPL experience. We try to expose as many guys as we can to international cricket. So someone like Harshit Raina – we are keen to give him a game. Tilak came into the squad a bit later (to replace the injured Shivam Dube). Jitish is there as well. There are options. The plan was to win the series and then try a few new faces for the last game,” ten Doeschate said at the pre-match press conference here on Friday (October 11, 2024).

The match also serves as a chance for misfiring openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma to come good.

Ryan ten Doeschate underlined the all-out attacking style of cricket that the team management is keen to follow.

“The Test match in Kanpur was a great example. We’re trying to push the limits of what we can do as a team. If you look at the T20Is, Sanju got a quick start in the first game in Gwalior. It would have been easy for him to knock it around and get a fifty. But he was trying to push for the boundaries. The messaging has been pretty consistent,” ten Doeschate said.

The 44-year-old, a belligerent hitter in his playing days, added, “We want to build a strong core of players. With the 50-over Champions Trophy (early 2025), T20 Asia Cup (late 2025) and the 2026 T20 World Cup coming up, we want to know where everyone stands in Indian cricket.”

For Bangladesh, a disastrous tour nears the end. India has dominated proceedings in the two T20Is and the preceding Test series. A consolation win at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium may be beyond reach.

Rinku Singh and Nitish Kumar Reddy during the T20 Match between India and Bangladesh at the Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in New Delhi on Wednesday (October 9, 2024)
| Photo Credit: R.V Moorthy

Nitish Kumar Reddy announced himself on the international stage with a flamboyant 74 as a youthful Indian side delivered yet another commanding performance to thrash Bangladesh by 86 runs in the second T20I here on Wednesday (October 9, 2024).

With the win, the hosts took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

The 21-year-old Reddy (74 off 34 balls) played the most attractive innings of his nascent career while also taking a couple of wickets (2/23) with his seam bowling.

Reddy combined with Rinku Singh (53 off 29), who too sizzled with a blistering fifty, to help India post 221/9 after being asked to bat.

Aside from an early wobble with the bat, the Indians appeared firmly in control, dominating Bangladesh throughout the match.

Their bowlers were on target, and the hosts executed some stunning catches to restrict Bangladesh to 135/9.

Reddy and Rinku put up a crucial 108-run stand for the fourth wicket and pulled India out of a precarious situation (41/3).

Reddy looked in sublime touch as he effortlessly blasted the Bangladesh attack to hit seven maximums and four boundaries in only 34 balls.

Playing only his second T20I, he brought up his maiden fifty in 27 balls by knocking the ball towards long-on.

At the other end Rinku, who hit five boundaries and three maximums, also showcased his big-hitting prowess as he smashed the first six of the match off leg-spinner Rishad Hossain in the eighth over.

Reddy, too, took a liking for Rishad, pummelling three maximums in the 10th over to take India past 100. The Bangladesh spinner looked clueless against him.

He first clobbered one across long on. Rishad erred in his length once again and was met with similar treatment as Reddy slogged it over wide long on. The third six came behind mid wicket.

He was eventually sent back by Mustafizur Rehman, who bowled a slower ball, but not before receiving a standing ovation.

Chasing the 220 plus total, opener Parvez Hossain Emon came out with an aggressive intent as he pumped the ball to the boundary three time but Arshdeep Singh had the last laugh as the left-arm seamer claimed the Bangladeshi’s wicket in his next over.

Once the Indians spinners started operating, Bangladesh lost wickets at regular intervals. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto was next to go as he became Washington Sundar’s first victim.

Opener Litton Das’ woeful run continued as mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy struck off his very first ball, continuing from where he left off.

The Bangladesh batter found the going tough and seemed happy to deal in singles with the required run rate skyrocketing. Veteran batter Mahmudullah (41 off 39), who is playing his penultimate T20I, was the lone warrior for Bangladesh.

Earlier put into bat, the Indian top-order was outfoxed by the pace trio of Tanzim Hasan (2/26), Mustafizur Rehman (2/36) and Taskin Ahmed (2/16). They varied their pace to get the desired results.

Bangladesh started the innings with some spin in the form of Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Sanju Samson (10) punished the off-spinner with back-to-back boundaries to plunder 15 runs from the first over.

But Samson bungled up his start, getting out to Taskin in the next over.

After only two runs in the second over, Abhishek Sharma (15) slammed back-to-back boundaries and looked to slog Tanzim Hasan but the 147kmph delivery induced an inside edge, which resulted in his off-stump going for a walk.

Shanto introduced Mustafizur into the attack in the sixth over and the experienced campaigner started with slower deliveries, with the third one paying dividends as Suryakumar Yadav chipped a cutter straight into the hands off Shanto as India lost their third wicket in the powerplay.

India’s Ravichandran Ashwin.
| Photo Credit: AP

R. Ashwin hailed India’s current bowling riches and hoped that the legacy of the current generation would inspire the next set of bowlers to take it forward.

“Each of those bowlers that bowl alongside me has the ability to hold on to a game, bowl with discipline and yet produce wicket-taking balls,” said Ashwin, who clinched a record-equalling 11th Player-of-the-Series award for his all-round effort.

Belief

“It is not just their ability alone. It is also the belief of the entire team. When Rohit says that you make 400 to try and make a game out of it, it tells you that the captain believes the bowlers will get the job done. These bowlers have done it day in and day out. And they have the ability to pick 20 wickets. The bowling attack is quite special, and I hope that this legacy of bowling is taken forward,” he added.

Explaining how India fashioned this remarkable win in under two days, Ashwin revealed that the aim was to have at least 70 to 80 overs to bowl out Bangladesh again.

“When we gathered inside, he mentioned that we would go hammer and tongs and try to make 400 runs in probably 50 overs. In that bargain, if we got bowled out of less than 200, it was okay because we made a game of it. Saying that is one, and when he said that, we knew how Yashasvi would play. But Rohit walked out and tonked the first ball for a six.”

“When you walk the talk, I think the dressing room has no choice but to follow that pattern. We had 50 runs in three overs, and there was no looking,” Ashwin remarked.

When asked about breaking Muttiah Muralitharan’s record for most Player of the Series awards, the 38-year-old insisted that cherishing memories is more important than records.

“I do not have an answer for that. But I would like to do it at a special occasion,” said Ashwin. “Probably if I end up with that, it’s great. But these are not things that motivate me any more, honestly. For me, the love of the game is something that I have harped upon repeatedly. It makes a world of difference for me to enjoy what I do. I am so glad I have gotten here. I would like to retain that happiness.”

Bangladesh’s player Shakib Al Hasan addresses a press conference ahead of the 2nd Test cricket match between India and Bangladesh, at the Green Park Stadium, in Kanpur
| Photo Credit: PTI

Star Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan on Thursday (September 26, 2024) admitted that travelling to India is the toughest Test assignment and pitches don’t make much difference due to the sheer quality of the hosts.

Bangladesh are still searching for their first Test win against India since 2000, when they first clashed in Dhaka.

The two teams have played 14 times against each other with India winning 12 contests while the remaining two ended in draws.

“If you look at other countries, every now and then they will lose one or two games. But in India, you hardly see them losing in Test matches. So yes, I would say you are right,” Shakib told reporters when asked if a tour to India was indeed the toughest assignment.

“We won against them in the ODI series in Bangladesh, we were very close to win a game against them in a Test match in Bangladesh. In Test cricket, we haven’t got the success that we are looking for. Tomorrow we will have another opportunity.

“I thought in patches we played really well in Chennai. But having said that, finishing the match in three-and-a-half days wasn’t ideal for us. We felt like we were a better team than that. So, we need to show that in tomorrow’s match,” he added.

Bangladesh did extremely well to win the Test series 2-0 in Pakistan before coming to India, and Shakib drew a comparison between the two teams.

“Pakistan is a relatively new team. In experience, I would say, if you look at the matches they played and if you look at our team and the matches we have played, we have got more experience than them. And in Test cricket I think that is a massive factor.

“If I talk about India, they are the number one team in the World Championship at this moment. They are probably unbeatable at home. I saw a stat somewhere where for some 4000 days they have been unbeaten in India. So, that shows how good they are in India.

“They have been doing well outside India as well. Any country that came to India finding it difficult, we are no different there. But having said that, we have to play really well against them to be able to show the fight that we feel like we can put on,” he noted.

Asked if a spin-friendly pitch in Kanpur would help their cause, Shakib was clear that tracks are not a big factor when it comes to competing against quality teams.

“When you play against a team like India, Australia, England, pitches don’t matter much because they will obviously have their weapon with which they can attack us.

“They will have quality spinners, they will have quality fast bowlers, they will have quality batsmen. So, I don’t think pitch will have any effect. It’s just we have to perform better than what we have done in Chennai.”

Shakib exhorted the young Bangladeshi batters to score big for the team to be competitive.

“If I talk about batting only, I think there has been an improvement. If you see from the first innings to the second innings. First innings we bowled out for about 150.

“In the second innings, we scored about 250. If we can score 350, somewhere there, I think that will be a huge improvement. And 350 to 400 on first innings will give us a lot of confidence and the dressing room will feel a lot more comfortable,” he said.

R. Ashwin bowling action during the match between India vs Bangladesh IDFC first Test match at Chepauk Stadium in Chennai on Sunday.
| Photo Credit: R. Ragu

With the indulgent dexterity of tucking into a Sunday morning brunch, India dismantled Bangladesh in the first Test at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium. On the fourth day, the lone point of interest was centred around how long the visitor would resist a seemingly inevitable defeat.

That question was answered well before the crockery was set for lunch as India needed a mere 24.5 overs to pocket the remaining six wickets. The target of 515 remained unsurmountable and Najmul Hossain Shanto’s men were bowled out for 234 in the second innings while the host won by 280 runs.

The penultimate day with its foregone conclusion still drew in the crowds as 15,365 fans trooped into the venue. Resuming at the overnight 158 for four, Bangladesh remained unscathed till the first drinks break as Najmul and Shakib Al Hasan hung in. The latter drove Mohammed Siraj for four and the seamer kept testing Najmul with angled deliveries and sharp words.

Soon it proved to be the proverbial lull before the storm, and one initiated by the slow art of annihilation practised by R. Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. At one point, Shakib charged at Jadeja, missed the line and Rishabh Pant failed to effect a stumping. On 17 then, Shakib did not last long as Ashwin drew an edge that Yashasvi Jaiswal caught well in the close-in cordon.

Placed at 194 for five, Bangladesh added 40 runs while the wickets kept tumbling. Litton Das feathered Jadeja straight to an exultant Rohit Sharma at first slip. Mehidy Hasan Miraz gave the charge to Ashwin and found Jadeja waiting in the deep. And from the other end, skipper Najmul watched in dismay.

Having played some lovely strokes besides remaining patient, the batter (82) then tried to loft one off Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah scrambled to pouch a good catch. The tail wilted immediately with some wild swipes and Man-of-the-Match Ashwin bagged a six-for.

These wickets in tandem with his remarkable first innings ton, made this Chepauk encounter yet another special outing at home for the local boy. A few waves to the stands were Ashwin’s way of expressing gratitude in what may be his last Test in his backyard.

India leads the two-match series at 1-0 with the second and final Test commencing at Kanpur on September 27. Bangladesh came in with a 2-0 Test series triumph in Pakistan but taking on India in its backyard is never easy. Over the last few decades, many pedigreed squads have learnt it the hard way and now it was time for the eastern neighbour to imbibe some tough lessons.

Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto speaks during a press conference ahead of the first cricket test match between India and Bangladesh, in Chennai, on September 18, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP

Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto felt that as players gain experience, they can control their emotions better, and not let the moment overwhelm them.

“I think it’s because many players have been playing for 10-15 years, and they have the experience. That’s why (we) don’t get emotional,” said Shanto.

“We are thinking about our game and not what will happen if we lose or win. We are just trying to give 100% every single match. That’s why we look calm and follow every plan.”

Riding high after the historic series win in Pakistan, Shanto said his team would take the confidence from that victory but doesn’t want to focus too much on the outcome.

Despite R. Ashwin’s terrific record against left-handers and Bangladesh having four southpaws in the top-four, Shanto felt there was no need to tinker with the batting order to counter the ace off-spinner.

“Our set-up is in a good condition. Mushfiqur (Rahim) has been batting in this position (lower-order) for a long time. The top-four batters are doing well, and I do not think there is a need to change,” the 26-year-old explained.

Shanto said his team had a good bowling attack and backed his boys to adapt to any challenges thrown at them. “We have a very experienced spin-bowling attack. In the last couple of years, we have had very good pacers as well. I know they are not that experienced, but they are capable of doing it.”

India’s Jasprit Bumrah participates in a training session ahead of their first test match between India and Bangladesh in Chennai. File.
| Photo Credit: AP

India head coach Gautam Gambhir hailed Jasprit Bumrah as the best pacer in international cricket across formats and was happy that bowlers are getting the spotlight they deserve.

“Bumrah is the best fast bowler in the world in all three formats. And it’s [not] just his performance. It’s his hunger as well. The best part is that he wants to play as much Test cricket as he can, and there is no doubt about that,” said Gambhir when asked if the speedster is the most valuable player in the team.

“What he has done in the T20 format in the West Indies is comparable to what he can do in red-ball cricket (like) against England. I think it’s an honour to have someone like Bumrah playing for us and sitting in that dressing room. He can make a difference at any stage of the game. So yes, hopefully, we can do the same in this series and going forward as well,” he added.

“It has not happened often in India where we talk about bowlers. India, at one stage, was a batter-obsessed nation. You’ve got to give credit to Bumrah, (Mohammed) Shami, (Mohammed) Siraj, Ashwin and (Ravindra) Jadeja, that we have started talking about the bowlers.”

The former India cricketer also batted away the notion that his side could take any opposition lightly on the eve of the first Test against Bangladesh.

“I have been a huge believer that we fear no one but respect everyone. And we don’t take any opposition lightly,” remarked Gambhir.

“That is what international cricket is all about. We respect Bangladesh, and we will always respect any opposition. But we have to go out there and play the brand of cricket that we want to play. We have got to try and give everything possible on the cricket field because that is what champion sides do. They don’t look at the opposition. They try to control the game. They try to play the way they want to play the game.”

The Indian Premier League’s adrenaline surge and the historic ICC T20 World Cup triumph infused energy into the nation’s leading cricketers over the last few months and now it is time to embrace Test cricket’s slow-burn intensity.

Searing heat

A searing heat has descended upon this southern metropolis but for once Chennaiites would prefer excess warmth over afternoon showers as India takes on Bangladesh in the opening Test of the two-match series at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium here from Thursday.

Rohit Sharma’s men last played a Test against England at Dharamshala in March and then merrily tumbled into limited-overs cricket.

A playing style reset is essential as Tests featuring Bangladesh, New Zealand and Australia await.

These games, all part of the World Test Championship which India currently leads, are critical encounters.

New era

The imminent clashes will also mark the arrival of coach Gautam Gambhir’s era. The former India opener may have whetted his appetite as leading mentor during the ODIs in Sri Lanka, but Tests are the real deal.

Stepping into Rahul Dravid’s boots, Gambhir has to steer a squad in transition towards higher glory.

India, playing in its backyard, will step out as the favourite but Bangladesh, having defeated Pakistan 2-0 in the recent Test series at Rawalpindi, is keen to prove a point against the big brother.

Be it independence in 1971 or a Test debut in 2000, on both occasions, Bangladesh found India lending a massive hand. Still the urge to prove that it is in no way inferior to its larger neighbour, will lend impetus to the visitor. While Dhaka recovers from a political churn, Najmul Hossain Shanto’s men continue to be invested with the role of being dispensers of hope.

Rawalpindi was part of that bouquet but Chennai now and Kanpur next may not be easy.

While India is mostly about the return of the native thanks to Rishabh Pant’s remarkable comeback from a life-threatening accident, the same theme is obvious through Virat Kohli too, who took a paternity break and missed the series against England. K.L. Rahul is back in the mix as well and Rohit now has an experienced core to fall back upon.

Appropriate resources

Be it Jasprit Bumrah as the spearhead or home boy R. Ashwin helming the spin department, the Indian skipper has appropriate resources on a surface expected to keep both the fast and slow purveyors in play.

For Bangladesh, a glimpse of the Bay of Bengal while touching down, and the fact that 10 minutes away from the venue is Greams Road with its distinctive Bengali vibe, could duplicate a sense of home. Yet, having never vanquished India in a Test while being the odd banana peel in ODIs especially during the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean, the Tigers are contending with a formidable opposition.

Veterans

In Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan, there are two veterans who know what it is to surprise India, Bangladesh needs the others too like Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taskin Ahmed to imbibe that spirit.

The teams (from):

India: Rohit Sharma (Capt.), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, K.L. Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), R. Ashwin, R. Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep and Yash Dayal.

Bangladesh: Najmul Hossain Shanto (Capt.), Litton Das, Jaker Ali, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan, Shakib Al Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Nayeem Hasan, Taijul Islam and Taskin Ahmed.

Umpires: Rod Tucker and Richard Kettleborough; Third umpire: Christopher Brown; Match referee: Jeff Crowe.

Play starts at 9.30 a.m.