Published: Jun 10, 2015, 07:01 PM (IST)
Edited: Jun 10, 2015, 08:55 PM (IST)
Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay combined to dismantle a high-flying Bangladesh on the first of their 18-day tour, letting the hosts know that there is a long road for them to enter a phase where they can be considered threatening on consistent basis. Devarchit Varma has more.
Bangladeshi captain Mushfiqur Rahim made the intentions clear in the sixth over of the first day at Fatullah, when he called upon one of his many spinners to try and extract some turn on a wicket whose look prompted him to play only one specialist seamer. In came Shuvagata Hom, and Shikhar Dhawan smacked him for two boundaries on the second and the third ball of the over, which set the tone for the rest of the day. Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay set a new record for opening partnership
Bangladeshi bowlers changed ends, bowled in different combinations, tried different lengths and even different field settings — at times attacking ones — but failed to get even a single wicket. Dhawan and Murali Vijay finished the day taking India to a commanding position of 239 for no loss in 56 overs — a platform from where the tourists are likely to out-bat Bangladesh from this Test. Unless Bangladeshi spinners pull off something spectacular. Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay register highest opening partnership for India against Bangladesh
At times, cricket can be a cruel game, and especially when teams of contrasting fortunes clash on unresponsive tracks, the poorer one suffers the most. Bangladesh toiled through the day at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah and kept hoping from the same set of bowlers to get wickets on their own tracks — something which they have done so often. But today was not their day. Shikhar Dhawan scores 3rd Test ton in India vs Bangladesh, one-off Test at Fatullah
Unlike Vijay, Dhawan had a few nervous moments. An edge fell short of the third slip in the third over off his bat, and there were two identical loose strokes in the air off Taijul Islam close to short midwicket. The second one was a dropped opportunity, with Hom failing to keep the ball in his hands despite grabbing it. The heavens opened up after that and a long rain delay also washed out chances of a Bangladeshi comeback on the first day. Murali Vijay scores half-century in India vs Bangladesh, one-off Test, Day 1 at Fatullah
In short, Dhawan and Vijay’s batting was a lesson for the Bangladeshis. Dhawan was brutal as always, and Vijay proved why he is nicknamed ‘monk’. While Dhawan displayed a flurry of strokes around the park, Vijay had his usual approach of being on and off — swinging easily into moods of hitting strokes to getting into the zone of just looking to rotate the strike. India vs Bangladesh 2015: What difference will result in one-off Test make in ICC rankings
Dhawan and Vijay never looked in hurry, and their selection of deliveries to hit and those to defend was simply commendable. The easy rotation of strikes was also a factor, and so was the ability to keep Bangladesh under the pump even though the momentum was lost due to a long rain break. India showed Bangladesh how Test cricket should be approached; they taught them how to go about them, over by over, session by session, pushing the opposition out of the contest with every passing minute.
A full day (or whatever was played of it) of Test cricket belonged to India, wherein they neither squandered a fine platform set by their openers nor did they do anything unwanted to lose the advantage. Indian fans can only rue the dearth of such days when India plays outside the subcontinent.
But as far as this Test is concerned, as far as the possibility of Bangladesh posing threats is concerned, India have done quite well to dismantle their hosts’ confidence.
(Devarchit Varma is a reporter with CricketCountry. He can be followed on Twitter @Devarchit)
