IND vs BAN: India Scripts History With Fastest Fifty In Test Match Cricket
Forget slow and steady; this was full-throttle fireworks at the bat, as the Indian Cricket Team shattered records for the fastest team fifty and the fastest team hundred in test cricket history on day four against Bangladesh in Kanpur. These are matches that even experts would have deemed too patience-intensive; think again! Blistering Start By Openers Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal, not more eager than a kid in a candy store, exploded out of the blocks. In three overs, they reached the milestone of fifty runs, catching everyone, both fans and bowlers, in a state of shock. That was just the beginning by Rohit himself to a 19-run juggernaut from just six balls, while Jaiswal was the live wire, racing to 30 runs from a mere 13 deliveries. It was like viewing a firecracker display—exciting, colourful and leaving you wondering what just happened! Rohit’s whirlwind innings ended when he was clean bowled by Mehidy Hasan Miraz for 23 runs off 11 balls, however by then, the damage was done. Indian batters Flexing Their Muscle Somebody said, “Slow and steady wins the race.” Not today! After their blistering start, the Indian Cricket Team surpassed 100 in just 10.1 overs. This scintillating feat broke the record set by them itself-only against West Indies-in 2023, when they reached 100 runs in 12.2 overs. Overriding Earlier Records FASTEST TEAM 50S RECORDED IN TEST MATCH CRICKET Rank Team Opponent Location Year 1 India Bangladesh Kanpur 2024 2 England West Indies Nottingham 2024 3 England West Indies Birmingham 2024 4 England South Africa The Oval 1994 5 England Sri Lanka Menchester 2002 The most delicious twist of all is that India’s record-breaking fifty also meant they over-rode England’s earlier record of 4.2 overs for the fastest fifty, which was only this July against the West Indies at Trent Bridge. India not only took away from England their status as the fastest team to fifty but also sounded a loud message: they are here to make test match cricket exciting again. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
IND vs BAN: What To Expect In The 2nd Test
With India winning the toss and bowling first against Bangladesh in the second and final test starting today, 27th September, 2024, all eyes will rest on India’s fast bowling cartel to deliver on a surface that holds a lot of moisture. India would be running in the 2nd test unchanged. For the hosts, the object of defeating Bangladesh 2-0 on board would be desired with an average like the Bangla Tigers after a convincing win in Chennai-an all-round bravery of Ravichandran Ashwin and Shubman Gill’s century along with Rishabh Pant’s return to form. Kohli and Rohit’s Form Although India plays dominant cricket, Kohli and Rohit did not impress much in the first test match, which was tested by Bangladesh pacers Hasan Mahmud and Taskin Ahmed. Kohli’s return saw underwhelming play, however enthusiasts can expect more caution from Kohli with his batting on the traditionally slow Green Park pitch. Pitch Conditions and Team Composition It is a black soil wicket, under overcast conditions. Traditionally it will tend to play slow and low with a higher first innings total expected. The scores may decline as the game progresses. There is enough of grass on the deck to provide the seamers the movement. Bangladesh Playing XI Changes Bangladesh, on their part, would look to change things around after fighting stiff competition from India’s bowling attack. Shakib Al Hasan is reportedly injured in the finger however is still featuring in the line-up. Bangladesh have injected left-arm spinner Taijul Islam into their attack to strengthen the bowling. Weather Ahead Thick humidity all throughout. The weather forecast is rain therefore the challenge is huge for both teams. India is keen to continue its unbeaten run against Bangladesh in test cricket, while visitors will require nothing short of extraordinary efforts to alter the tide in their favor. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
IND vs BAN: Shubman Gill’s Fifth Test Ton Justifies His ‘Prince’ Tag
Shubman Gill arrived on the scene like a cricketing superhero during the 1st test match at Chennai scoring a scintillating 119* off 176 deliveries. When it really mattered, Shubman Gill rose to the occasion. With India looking pretty comfortable, Shubman Gill felt it was high time to take it up a notch and show everyone why he is one of the promising young batsmen in international cricket today and gave his fifth test-match hundred off just 161 balls. Not a moment out of place in his innings; he was cautious and aggressive at the same time, like a tightrope walker with decades of experience. Gill And Pant To The Rescue It was with Rishabh Pant that the pair transformed the pitch to their own playground, treating spectators to some kind of spread of flair and finesse which would make even the most stoic cricket fan crack a smile. Gill Dealing In Boundaries For all that Bangladesh’s spinners could do, Shubman Gill seemed to have a magic wand; he found boundaries when they appeared as elusive as a needle in a haystack. Every one of those fours and sixes was a psychological blow to the opposition. A Century Worth Celebrating This was not just any century; after a string of dazzling performances, he proved that Shubman Gill is no one-hit wonder. He showed he could conquer test cricket while waving the bat like a ballet dancer, reminding all of greats who came before. The future looks bright for Gill When the crowds erupted in cheers, the Chennai crowd knew that Shubman Gill was running up scores not only but, with every stroke, writing a script for the future of Indian cricket and one that promises excitement, flair, and a whole lot of fun. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
IND vs BAN: Rishabh Pant Belts A Breezy Century On Test Comeback
Rishabh Pant has just performed a comeback for the ages! After a long 634 days away from test match cricket-talk about a long vacation-he strode back onto the field against Bangladesh and scored his sixth test match century. It’s like Rishabh Pant never left! Pant At Par With MS Dhoni With this dazzling performance, Pant tied the record with MS Dhoni for most test match centuries by an Indian wicketkeeper. If there was a comeback award, Rishabh Pant would be a hands-down winner. Pressure? What Pressure? After a lackluster 39 runs in the first innings, the stage was quite laid out for Pant to shine in the second. India wobbly at 67/3, he stepped out like he owned the place. Channeling his inner superhero, Rishabh Pant soaked in the pressure like a sponge before unleashing a batting display that saw Bangladesh’s bowlers spinning circles in a dizzy daze. Talking about luck? Bangladesh’s captain dropped him on 72—ouch! But Pant took it as a sign to keep the runs rolling. Batting Bonanza Sharing the limelight with Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant brought his century shortly after lunch on day three, treating the crowd to his trademark single-handed six. It was like watching a magician perform tricks. Pant’s batting was a dazzling mix of calculated caution and audacious aggression as he nearly became impossible to keep pace with for the visitors. By the time Rishabh Pant departed at 109, he had practically batted Bangladesh out of the match, setting a daunting target of over 450 runs. A Century with Heart Well, this was no ordinary century. It was Rishabh Pant’s first across formats since surviving a life-threatening accident nearly two years ago. Rishabh Pant’s return to test match cricket does not just read as a personal victory, however it reminds us all that comebacks come at an extraordinary price. Rishabh Pant is back and here to stay–let’s see what more magic he has up his sleeve! The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
5 Times Ravichandran Ashwin Saved India in Test Cricket
We all are aware of Ravichandran Ashwin’s ability to spin a web and trap the opposition, especially when playing for the Indian Cricket Team in the whites. However, very little do we speak of Ashwin rescuing the Indian Cricket Team in crucial test matches – not with the ball we are talking about, but with the bat. Just what he proved once again in the on-going 1st test match against Bangladesh at Chennai, his all-round ability has been crucial to India’s success over all these years. Ravichandran Ashwin piled on a mammoth score of 113 off 133 deliveries and saved the Indian Cricket Team from a batting collapse. Alongside him was Ravindra Jadeja who supported him with a steady 86 run knock coming off his bat off 124 deliveries. Here are five such instances when Ravichandran Ashwin’s batting heroics pulled India out of trouble in test cricket. 1. 106 vs England, Chennai (2021) At a precarious 106/6 with a lead of 301 runs, Ravichandran Ashwin’s century (106 off 148) in the second innings helped India set an uphill target of 481, which England could not chase and India emerged victorious by 317 runs. 2. 124 vs West Indies, Kolkata (2013) The score card read India 156/6 in their second innings with the West Indies posting 234 in the first innings. Ravichandran Ashwin and Rohit Sharma combined to help India amass 453. India thus went on to win by an innings and 51 runs. 3. 91* vs England, Kolkata (2012) After posting 523, England had made it clear in their batting that it was going to be tricky for India to see them off. It was 122/6 in the second innings, and after this, it was not the best of days for Indians as Ravichandran Ashwin batted his way to an unbeaten 91 to take India to a respectable score of 247. 4. 118 vs West Indies, St. Lucia (2016) Ravichandran Ashwin’s 118, coupled with Wriddhiman Saha’s 104, helped India recover from 87/4 to 353, after which it gained momentum for a 237-run win. 5. 72 vs England, Mohali (2016) When India was in trouble at 156/5, Ravichandran Ashwin’s subdued 72 got India to a total of 417, which gave the team a comfortable victory over England. These performances aptly describe the treasure bag Ravichandran Ashwin brings out under pressure and thereby proves he is more than a world-class bowler. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
IND vs BAN: Anna Sets The Tone In Chennai With His Sixth Test Match Ton
Ravichandran Ashwin and his marvelous performances at Chepauk is literally a match made in heaven. For on Thursday, the hometown hero danced his way to a spectacular sixth test match century, pulling India from a wobbly 144/6 to a much more respectable 339/6 on the first day of the first test against Bangladesh. It was also Ashwin’s second consecutive test match century at Chepauk, his last one coming off against England, back in 2021. Wrecking Ball Moment For Bangladesh Hasan Mahmud takes a Miley Cyrus turn for India’s misery as the top order goes for a toss. Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill and even Virat Kohli perished quickly. Mahmud was an unspent volcano, getting four wickets, as a band without its lead singer, India stumbled to 144/6. Chennai’s Familiar Faces To The Rescue In walked Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin. Ranked No.1 and No.2 in the ICC Men’s Test all-rounder rankings, this dynamic duo was not letting the party end early. Together, they stitched an unbroken 195-run stand that left Bangladesh scratching their heads and India back in the game. Jadeja, always the cool-headed sidekick, closed the day on 86*- a stone’s throw away from his own century. Ashwin’s Century: Chepauk’s Favorite Repeat Performance Ravichandran Ashwin, the showman smashed 10 fours and 2 sixes, robbing the opposition of every chance, taking his century in a mere 108 balls. The man clearly reveals in an encore; after all, his last test match ton came right here in 2021. Much like before, Ravichandran Ashwin swooped in at a critical moment to save the day. Chepauk, of course, loved every second of it. Ashwin’s Magic Brings India Back On Track By stumps, India was sitting pretty at 339/6. Bangladesh, high on its own ambitions, woke up scratching its collective head, wondering how things unraveled so quick. One thing is for sure: when Ravichandran Ashwin is batting at Chepauk, expect magic. The Sports Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
IND vs BAN: Bizarre Milestones to Look Out for in the Test Series
As India prepares for a two-match test series against Bangladesh starting September 19th, 2024 in Chennai, all eyes are on these individual and team milestones that will rewrite the cricketing history books. 1. India Closing on a Win-Heavy Record India Test record 178 and 178 losses. Just one more win will make India ahead for the first time in their Test history. 2. Virat Kohli to Join the 9,000 Club Virat Kohli needs just 152 runs to join the 9,000-run club. It makes him the fourth Indian apart from Sachin, Dravid, and Gavaskar to reach this mark. 3. Fastest to 27K International Runs Kohli is also just 58 runs away from surpassing the 623 innings it had taken Sachin Tendulkar to reach 27,000 international runs. Kohli has played only 591 innings. 4. Mushfiqur’s Everest of 6,000 Runs Bangladesh’s Mushfiqur Rahim is 108 runs away from becoming the first Bangladeshi to cross 6,000 Test runs, a very rare feat in the country’s cricketing history. 5. Jadeja’s 300-Wicket Club Ravindra Jadeja is now just six wickets away from entering a rarefied echelon of all-rounders that also includes Ashwin and Kapil Dev. 6. Taijul Islam’s Magic Number: 200 Tajul Islam is only five wickets away from becoming only the second Bangladeshi to enter the 200 club for Test wickets, and the number has shadowed Shakib Al Hasan in the pecking order pretty much. 7. Bangladesh First Test Win vs India? Bangladesh has yet to win a Test against India. They have lost 11 Tests and drawn two out of 13. Is it their day today? With records under threat, cricketing drama and history in the making will be a glue that ties this series together. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
IND vs BAN: Rahul & Pant Return, Yash Dayal’s Big Break
Good news for all the cricket lovers out there! India’s squad for the two-match Test series against Bangladesh has been announced, and the familiar arsenal is back. First, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant return after being ruled out because of injuries. Both are geared up to light the field once again in the two-match series, starting in Chennai on September 19 at the iconic M.A. Chidambaram Stadium. With these two heavyweights being thrown into the mix, things just got a lot more interesting. Pant’s Road to Redemption Remember that heart-stopping car accident which sent Rishabh Pant into exile? Well, he is back with a bang! Making his Test comeback after almost a year, Pant is fresh off a solid half-century for India B in the Duleep Trophy and has got redemption on his mind; Bangladesh might just be the perfect playground for his return to form. Yash Dayal is the new kid on the block. The left-arm pacer among the squad headlines for a Test call-up for the very first time! Big moment to say the least, while Pant and Rahul steal the spotlight; Dayal gets his chance to make a name for himself on the grand stage. Shami Sits Out, Akash Steps In While the experienced pacer Mohammed Shami is still recovering from Achilles surgery, Akash Deep replaces him, having shaken up England’s lineup with nine wickets on his debut. He will surely be hoping to work a little magic again against Bangladesh. Bangladesh’s Wave of Victory By the way, Bangladesh are not arriving in India on a whimper, but on a clean sweep of Pakistan 2-0 at home for the first time. This is going to be one fiery series. Team India Squad For Test Matches vs Bangladesh Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Sarfaraz Khan, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel (WK), R Ashwin, R Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohd. Siraj, Akash Deep, Jasprit Bumrah, Yash Dayal. The Sportz Planet Desk,Atharva Shetye
