KL Rahul was a pleased captain after India’s comprehensive 188-run victory over Bangladesh in the opening Test at Chattogram on Sunday (December 18).
Chasing 513 in the final innings, the hosts’ innings folded for 324 in just 50 minutes on the final day. Indian spinners Akshar Patel (4/77) and Kuldeep Yadav (3/73) shared seven wickets between them in Bangladesh’s second innings.
Bangladesh came into the final day with Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan unbeaten at the crease and four wickets in hand. Mohammed Siraj nipped out Mehidy (13) when the latter chased a wide delivery. While Shakib took on the Indian bowlers and hit a flurry of boundaries, he was eventually castled by Kuldeep for 84.
The home team’s tail didn’t last long and the visitors took an unbeatable 1-0 lead in this two-match Test series.
“We've been here for a while. The one-day series didn't go how we wanted it to, the results didn't go our way. It was important that we turned up and performed well in the Test series. It was a hard-fought Test match and we had to really work hard for this win. Really happy that we did that. It (pitch) did flatten out, it didn't worry us but it looked like the batters were batting very comfortably and getting runs easily. Getting runs was very hard for the first three days. It was a slow pitch, not much in the wicket for batters to get runs easily,” Rahul said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
Zakir Hasan (100) and Najmul Hossain Shanto (67) frustrated the Indian bowers for the entire opening session on Day 4 and added 124 runs for the opening wicket.
However, the tourists pulled back things in the last two sessions as they reduced Bangladesh to 272/6 at stumps on Day 4.
“The way their openers batted, made it harder for us and we knew that we had to work hard for our wickets. Even when the partnership was going, our intensity was really high. We've played Test cricket for a while and we know that no victory comes easy,” the stand-in India skipper added.
Rahul was happy with India’s collective batting and bowling display in both innings of the first Test.
“We batted well in the first innings as well. From the position we were in to get to 400+ was a job well done by the batters. Puji (Pujara), Shreyas batted really well and Rishabh went with that counter-attacking innings, that's how he plays. Good that the batters did that and the lower order contributed, that gives you confidence when you win the toss and bat first. The way we bowled in the first innings really set the game up. Shubman and Puji really utilised the opportunity of batting, very happy for them. Very pleased with the way we bowled in both the innings,” he remarked.
“We won the Test match, I am not going to worry about what we could have done better. We are going to relax for the next couple of days and then think about what we need to do next,” Rahul further stated.
The second and final Test is due to be held at Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka from December 22.
(With Cricbuzz inputs)
