The smiles returned to the Indian dressing room as soon as the winning runs were scored, with coach Rahul Dravid walking out and embracing the star duo. However, while Dravid appeared pleased after the victory, the Indian dressing room appeared concerned at times.
India won the second Test match in Mirpur by three runs after a nail-biting thriller in Dhaka. Chasing 145 to win, India were reduced to 45/5 at stumps, and Bangladesh’s chances of victory improved early on Day 4 when Mehidy Hasan completed a five-wicket haul to leave the opposition reeling at 74/7. With only three wickets remaining and Bangladesh needing another 71 to win, the odds were heavily stacked against them.
But, just as it appeared that Bangladesh would win their first Test against India, Shreyas Iyer and R Ashwin resisted, playing defining innings en route to an unbeaten fifty-plus stand that guided India home. Iyer finished unbeaten on 29, while Ashwin finished unbeaten on 42 to help India win the series 2-0. The smiles returned to the Indian dressing room as soon as the winning runs were scored, with coach Rahul Dravid walking out and embracing the star duo. However, while Dravid appeared pleased after the victory, the Indian dressing room appeared concerned at times.
Former BCCI selector Saba Karim reacted to Dravid’s visuals with relief, pointing out that India’s head coach must be wondering why the team got into trouble in the first place. Not everyone agreed with the decision to send Axar Patel ahead of Rishabh Pant and Jaydev Unadkat as the nightwatchman, and Karim pointed out how India’s batter struggling on a Day 4 pitch against an attack like Bangladesh should raise red flags.
“The victory was more of a relief in the locker room. Everyone seemed to panic as the run chase unfolded. The way they rearranged the batting order. He [Dravid] and the rest of the players couldn’t believe this would be our situation… against Bangladesh because it wasn’t a particularly difficult chase. A 145-run target wasn’t much, especially when you’re chasing on the fourth day, not even Day 5 “On the Sony Sports Network, he stated.
After losing the ODI series 1-2, Team India’s year would have ended on a disappointing note if this chase had failed, but fortunately for them, Iyer and Ashwin showed the stomach for a fight and came out victorious. Even though India’s win wasn’t ideal, Karim mentioned how Iyer and Ashwin’s ability to bat in the fourth innings of a Test match is something India would have taken plenty of positives from.
“The significance of scoring runs in the fourth innings is something else, and if the players are averaging higher in the fourth innings, you can tell which cricketers have the skill and technique. Iyer and Ashwin demonstrated precisely, but what is more important is whether you have the temperament. Only then will you be able to complete such difficult run chases “He continued.