The top order batsmen of the Indian team set India at a great position on the first day in Hyderabad against Bangladesh. Vijay, Kohli, Pujara and Rahane helped India reach a score of 356/3 in 90 overs. Among the players, Murali Vijay was the main star in the day, striking a flamboyant 108 to give India a good start. Virat Kohli contributed with a priceless 111* at the end continuing his fine run of form, while Cheteswar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane played good supporting hands to Vijay and Kohli respectively. As for Bangladesh, they could not capitalize on the early chances given by the Indian team and bowled too many loose balls, which India fully capitalized on. If they have any chance of at least drawing the game, they need to step up their performance in the upcoming days.
In the beginning of the match, Virat Kohli won the toss and elected to bat on a green Hyderabad pitch. As expected, they exclude Karun Nair, the triple centurion in the last match, for one of their most consistent performers Ajinkya Rahane. KL Rahul took strike first, while Taskin Ahmed opened the bowling. Rahul started confidently on an inswinger onto the pads first ball, which was easily clipped for 2 runs. On the fourth ball of the over, Taskin Ahmed bowled a full outswinger. Rahul, who saw the chance to make some runs, drove fiercely at the ball, only to find that the ball took the inside edge and crashed into the stumps for India’s first wicket. Rahul was out for 2 and India were in an early state of bother at 2/1 in 0.4 overs.
Pujara, one of India’s most solid batsmen, came in and started defensively. He tucked his first ball to midwicket for a single, but showed signs of aggression on a mellifluous cover drive timed perfectly. However, Bangladesh had the chance to claim Pujara when Kamrul Islam Rabbi bowled a short ball which surprised Pujara. The ball lingered in the air for quite some time, but fell just short of short leg. Rabbi then again produced a chance later when he got the outside edge of Pujara, but Mushfiqur Rahim, the wicketkeeper, did not go at it resulting in the ball falling just short of slip. Pujara, visibly shaken by these two incidents, went back to playing defensively.
At the other end, Vijay was firm as usual and rarely got tempted. While he also showed solid defense and technique, he unleashed three pulls on Rabbi’s short balls, showing his hunger for runs. However, luck played a role in his innings as well when Mehedi Hasan Miraz drew the outside edge of Vijay off a turner, but the ball once again fell short of slip. Bangladesh had three chances, but unfortunately none of them sent the batsmen back to the pavilion.
The duo gradually went to a 50 partnership, a mix of Pujara’s classy punches and drives, and Vijay’s ruthless pulls and cuts off short balls from the pacers, and wall-like defense from both batsmen. India was looking settled for the time being. However, Bangladesh missed a HUGE and fairly easy chance in the 19th over which they could never really recover from and gave India a clear upper hand in the contest. Vijay tucked Mehedi Hasan Miraz around the corner for a single but Rabbi once again came into the contest when he dived and stopped the ball. Pujara, who was eagerly looking for a single, already bolted across while Vijay was still at his crease. Vijay realized that there was a danger of a runout and darted back, but Rabbi threw the ball straight to Miraz when Vijay was miles away. Miraz however, dropped the throw, allowing Vijay to come back into the crease and be safe. Miraz’s big error resulted in the Indian’s getting one more chance at a big total.
Right before the lunch break, Vijay hit a classy boundary off Takin Ahmed for a little late momentum. At lunch, India were at 86/1 with a settled duo at the crease (Vijay on 45*, Pujara on 39*), and were looking for a big score. Bangladesh frankly had been lackluster after the wicket of Rahul and clearly missed some easy chances to set India on the backfoot.
Post lunch, Pujara set the tone with a sharp cut that raced to the boundary. Vijay reached his fifty off 82 balls with a sweetly timed off drive of Shakib Al Hasan and was looking confident and set. Vijay continued his smooth innings, showing both stubborn defense but not sparing any loose ball. Kamrul Islam Rabbi became an easy target for Vijay due to his lackluster line and pace. Vijay capitalized on every opportunity and regularly kept scoring runs. Meanwhile, Pujara tapped Rabbi for a single and reached a defensive fifty off 108 balls. With an increasingly aggressive Vijay, and a solid Pujara at the other end, the duo looked unstoppable. The duo then changed their focus to the spinners for quick runs, with Vijay cutting Shakib for four and then straight driving him for a huge SIX!! Pujara pulled two consecutive fours of Miraz. Both impenetrable defense from both batsmen and signs of aggression from Vijay and Pujara made the Bangladeshi bowlers toil hard at all times.
Pujara continued his assault on Miraz and pulled him for another four. But two balls later, he got carried away, resulting in Miraz procuring the outside edge of Pujara with a spinning flighted ball. Mushfiqur Rahim then caught the ball on the second attempt behind the stumps, and Pujara was dismissed for an outstanding 83. Bangladesh had a slight opening in which they could slide in and take control of the game.
But it was not any batsmen, but Virat Kohli, the masterful Indian captain, who came to the crease next. He made his intentions clear with a powerful square drive on his very first ball. A few balls later, he drove a full inswinger from Taskin Ahmed straight to the straight boundary to assert his attacking game. Vijay, at the other end, got another outside edge, off Taskin Ahmed that rolled straight to the boundary. In the support of Kohli, the duo reached tea at 206/2 with Vijay on 98* and Kohli on 17*. Although India had lost the wicket of Cheteswar Pujara at a key stage, India’s score was at a strong position and they were not in a spot of bother thanks to Kohli’s audacity early in his innings and Vijay’s cautious play. For Bangladesh, this session was another session of toil. Despite taking a wicket, could not really instill fear into the batsmen’s mind.
Post tea, Kohli drove Rabbi once again to the boundary, continuing his tough day. An over later, Vijay cut a length ball from Rabbi for 2 runs and reached a superb century. Vijay built his century on the base of defending good balls, but attacking loose balls. He reached his 9th test century in 149 balls with a moderately good strike rate. Vijay’s jubilation was clear, as he took off his helmet and raised his bat in front of an electric Hyderabad crowd.
Vijay decided to raise the runs, and swept Taijul after a few balls for four. However, he attempted to sweep a straight ball 2 balls later, and was bowled for 108. Although his dismissal was rather soft, Vijay played an excellent innings. However, his dismissal gave Bangladesh elation as a slight opening was created.
Rahane then came in, and after a slow start, pulled Taijul for 4. Kohli then showed his range, by flicking Shakib for four and repeatedly rotated the strike to avoid uneasiness. Bangladesh could not seem to capitalize on the opening created by Vijay’s wicket due to the stability of Rahane and Kohli. Kohli eventually pushed Shakib to long on after hitting a few boundaries and reached a strokeful 50. He had stabilized India after Vijay’s loss, and was looking set for a 100. As soon as Kohli reached his 50, he and Rahane changed gears. They went after the loose balls, almost every ball going straight to the boundary. The duo eventually wore the Bangladesh bowlers out, who, due to the toil, began to bowl more and more width and length balls, which were promptly smashed by the duo. The run rate began to accelerate, and it went up to the point where even a slightly loose ball was smashed straight to the boundary.
In this assault, Kohli smashed a cover drive to bring up a pristine hundred. He had done wonderfully to continue the Indian dominance after Pujara and Vijay’s wickets. He had impeccable timing and placement, didn’t spare any bad balls, and kept on rotating strike, eventually tiring the bowlers. He raised his bat aloof, in joy of a 16th test hundred. He reached the 100 in 130 balls with a strike rate above 75.00. The Indian captain once again led by example.
Rahane finished play with a few cuts and drives in the last over before stumps. India’s score was a daunting 356/3, with Kohli and Rahane looking as confident and set as ever. The top order batsmen wore out Bangladesh, didn’t lose any chances to score runs, and on top of all, showed some solid defense. Bangladesh gave up early chances, letting India establish an aura of dominance over the test match. Bangladesh should step up their game and bowl and bat well for the rest of the Test match, or India have the test match safely in the bag.
