In the opening test of the two-match series at Chattogram’s Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav put an end to Bangladesh’s resistance, giving India a convincing 188-run victory.
With this victory, India climbed to third place in the ICC World Test Championship standings as Bangladesh fell victim to the excellent spinners of India, losing four wickets in the first hour of the fifth day’s opening session. Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav, a spin-duo, took seven wickets together to destroy the hosts. Kuldeep took three wickets, bringing his total for the game to eight, while Axar took four.
Bangladesh’s innings resumed at 272/6, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz (9) and Shakin Al Hasan (41) at the crease.Mehidy blasted Mohammed Siraj through the covers in the first over of the day, while Shakib slog-swept Axar Patel for a six from the other end, giving Bangladesh a good start.
The hosts were eventually dismissed for 324 runs, though, as it only took the Indian bowlers 11.2 overs to end the second inning. Mehidy was unable to swat Siraj on the up and was forced to cut one to the backward point. Before Kuldeep Yadav dismissed Shakib for 84, he attacked the Indian spinners and hit a torrent of boundaries.
Earlier, India struck three more times in the final session of the fourth day of the match, leaving the hosts struggling at 272/6 at the end of the day’s play, with 241 more runs required to win with only four wickets in hand.
Kuldeep Yadav was declared the player of the match for his eight wickets and his valuable knock of 40 runs in the first inning.
