Cricket

Star Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has acknowledged the formidable challenge of touring India for Test matches, emphasizing that the quality of the hosts makes the pitches less significant. Bangladesh has yet to secure a Test victory against India since their first encounter in Dhaka in 2000.Shakib, who has been a pivotal figure in Bangladesh's cricket success, expressed his admiration for India's dominance in Test cricket. "If you look at other countries, every now and then they will lose one or two games. But in India, you hardly see them losing in Test matches. So yes, I would say you are right," Shakib told reporters.Despite Bangladesh's recent Test series victory against Pakistan, Shakib drew a distinction between the two teams. "Pakistan is a relatively new team. In experience, I would say, if you look at the matches they played and if you look at our team and the matches we have played, we have got more experience than them. And in Test cricket I think that is a massive factor."However, Shakib acknowledged India's exceptional status in the cricketing world. "They are the number one team in the World Championship at this moment. They are probably unbeatable at home. I saw a stat somewhere where for some 4000 days they have been unbeaten in India. So, that shows how good they are in India."Shakib emphasized that Bangladesh must perform exceptionally well to compete against India. "We have to play really well against them to be able to show the fight that we feel like we can put on," he said.Regarding the potential impact of a spin-friendly pitch in Kanpur, Shakib downplayed its significance. "When you play against a team like India, Australia, England, pitches don't matter much because they will obviously have their weapon with which they can attack us."Shakib urged Bangladesh's young batters to step up and score big. "If I talk about batting only, I think there has been an improvement. If you see from the first innings to the second innings. First innings we bowled out for about 150. In the second innings, we scored about 250. If we can score 350, somewhere there, I think that will be a huge improvement. And 350 to 400 on first innings will give us a lot of confidence and the dressing room will feel a lot more comfortable," he said.

Bangladesh faces another formidable challenge in Kanpur as they take on India in the second Test of the series. Despite their impressive 2-0 victory in Pakistan, Bangladesh was outplayed by India in Chennai, losing by 280 runs.India's batting depth was on full display in Chennai, with three centurions and two half-centurions despite Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's modest contributions. Their bowling attack also proved formidable, with the seamers and spinners sharing 17 wickets.Kanpur presents a different challenge for Bangladesh. The pitch is expected to be flatter and slower, favoring spinners in the latter stages of the match. However, rain is forecast for the first three days, which could impact the pitch and team compositions.Despite the odds, Bangladesh has shown signs of promise. Their openers provided a solid start in the second innings in Chennai, and Najmul Hossain Shanto returned to form with an 82. Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz also made starts in the first innings.India will be keen to fine-tune their game ahead of tougher opponents in the coming months. Shubman Gill, who scored an unbeaten 119 in the second innings in Chennai, will be eager to prove his worth at No. 3.Shakib Al Hasan remains a key figure for Bangladesh. Despite concerns about his workload and effectiveness, he is expected to play a significant role in Kanpur.India may consider playing three spinners, with Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, and Ravindra Jadeja all in contention. Bangladesh could also opt for three spinners, with Taijul Islam potentially replacing Nahid Rana.The pitch in Kanpur is expected to be slow and low-bouncing, with the possibility of rain affecting the match. India has a strong record at home, with more wins than losses in Test history. Ravindra Jadeja is one wicket away from becoming the seventh Indian to take 300 Test wickets.

Virat Kohli's recent batting struggles have raised concerns ahead of the second Test against Bangladesh, starting on Friday. In the first Test in Chennai, Kohli managed only 6 and 17 runs, sparking doubts about his current form.Kohli's difficulties were evident during a net session at Green Park Stadium, where he faced challenges against both pace and spin. Indian Express reported that Kohli struggled against India's top pacer Jasprit Bumrah in a 15-ball spell.Initially, Kohli appeared confident, hitting a few strokes. However, Bumrah soon gained the upper hand, beating Kohli four times, including forcing an edge and hitting his pads. Bumrah teased Kohli further, saying, "You are plumb" and "The last one would have been caught at short leg." Kohli responded with a smile, acknowledging his difficulties.Kohli's struggles were even more noticeable against India's spin trio — Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel. While facing Jadeja, Kohli tried to play inside-out but missed the ball three consecutive times, visibly showing his frustration. In his final practice session, Axar Patel bowled him out, indicating Kohli's ongoing difficulties with spin.Kohli's poor form has become a talking point, with fans and experts expressing concern. Some have attributed his struggles to a lack of match practice, as he missed the five-match series against England for personal reasons. Others have suggested that Kohli may be suffering from a technical flaw or a loss of confidence.As India gears up for the second Test, all eyes will be on Kohli to see how he adjusts and performs. Fans are eager to see if the talented batter can regain his form and make a significant contribution to the team in the long Test season ahead.

Virat Kohli, India's batting mainstay, will be under the spotlight as the team takes on Bangladesh in the second and final Test of their series. India, currently atop the World Test Championship (WTC) standings, will aim to secure a 2-0 series victory, while Kohli and skipper Rohit Sharma will be eager to rediscover their batting form after a disappointing outing in the first Test.In the series opener at Chennai, India dominated Bangladesh, winning by 280 runs. However, Kohli and Rohit struggled, scoring only 6 and 5 in the first innings and 6 and 17 in the second, respectively. Since then, the duo has been working diligently in the nets at Kanpur's Green Park Stadium to regain their rhythm.Kohli, in particular, will be desperate to end his prolonged lean patch. In 15 matches across formats this year, he has managed just 319 runs, including a single half-century. His form is crucial for India's success in the upcoming season, which includes eight more Tests: three against New Zealand at home and five in Australia.Kanpur has been a happy hunting ground for India, with the team remaining unbeaten since 1983. Kohli and Rohit will be determined to join the list of centurions from the first Test, which includes Ravichandran Ashwin, Rishabh Pant, and Shubman Gill.India's bowling attack, led by Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav, will also be keen to continue their impressive performance. In the first Test, they dismissed Bangladesh for 150 and 231, respectively.Bangladesh, on the other hand, will be looking to salvage some pride after their heavy defeat in Chennai. Skipper Mominul Haque and opener Tamim Iqbal will need to lead from the front and provide their team with a solid foundation.The second Test promises to be an intriguing contest, with India aiming to extend their dominance and Bangladesh determined to prove their mettle.

The Green Park curator has unveiled the blueprint for the wicket that will host the second Test between India and Bangladesh, promising a surface that will cater to both pacers and spinners over the course of the five-day encounter.The pitch, which will be used for the Test commencing on Friday, is expected to provide a lively bounce in the initial sessions, favoring the pacers. However, as the match progresses, the spinners are anticipated to come into their own, with the wicket expected to slow down and offer assistance to the tweakers."It will have something for everyone," said curator Shiv Kumar. "It will offer bounce in the first two sessions and it will be pretty good for batting for the first two days. Then, the spinners will come into play on the last three days."The pitch has been prepared using black soil sourced from Kali Mitti village near Unnao, a practice that has been followed for years at Green Park. Black soil is known to assist spinners, while red soil typically favors pacers."We get this soil tested from the Indian Institute of Technology," said an official from the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA). "It's a special soil that is found near a pond in village Kali Mitti. It (bringing black soil from the village) is a practice we have been following for years."In an effort to promote environmental sustainability, the UPCA has decided to minimize the use of plastic during the second Test. Plastic plates for serving snacks inside the stadium have been banned, with only paper plates being allowed."This is a match at Green Park and we are striving to make it a 'green' match," said stadium director Sanjay Kapur. "We have decided to use as little plastic as possible."

Pakistan's humiliating Test series loss to Bangladesh has sparked outrage among cricket fans and former players alike. Former leg-spinner Danish Kaneria has launched a scathing attack on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the team, calling them "worse than a mohalla team."Kaneria's criticism stems from Pakistan's dismal performance in the two-match series. Bangladesh dominated the first Test with a resounding 10-wicket victory, while in the second Test, they chased down 185 runs with six wickets in hand. This marked the third-highest successful run chase by a visiting team on Pakistani soil.Kaneria believes the PCB is to blame for the team's poor showing. He highlights the disconnect between the leadership and the performance on the field, stating that "the luxuries of the captain's 'kursi' (chair) and the chairmanship at the PCB spoil minds."Kaneria also questions the decision to replace Sarfaraz Ahmed with Babar Azam as captain. He believes Sarfaraz was a more capable leader and that the current leadership lacks the ability to handle pressure situations."I don't know why Babar Azam was given the leadership responsibility despite Sarfaraz Ahmed's good captaincy," Kaneria said. "Currently, there is no captain material in the Pakistan team. A captain is someone who takes the pressure on his shoulders and carries the team forward with his performance, which both Babar and Shan Masood have failed to do."Kaneria draws a comparison between Pakistan and India, emphasizing that Indian players have consistently stepped up to the plate when required. He praises Rishabh Pant, India's dynamic wicketkeeper-batter, and suggests that he could be a future leader for India, especially in Test cricket."When you look at the current Indian team, everyone takes responsibility and performs when it is needed," Kaneria said. "Shubman (Gill), Rishabh (Pant), (Ravichandran) Ashwin — everyone contributes, and that is why they are a world-class team."Kaneria's criticism reflects the growing frustration among Pakistani cricket fans and experts. The team's recent performances have raised serious concerns about the direction of the team under Babar Azam's leadership. The PCB must take immediate action to address the issues plaguing the team and restore Pakistan's status as a cricketing powerhouse.

The Indian cricket team will face Bangladesh in the second and final Test match of the series at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur. However, the stadium has been deemed unsafe by the Uttar Pradesh Public Works Department (PWD), with one of the stands declared dangerous and at risk of collapse if filled to capacity.The PWD has instructed the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) to limit ticket sales for the Balcony C stand to 1,700, significantly below its capacity of 4,800. Repair work on the stand is ongoing and is expected to continue for the next few days.Engineers have warned that the Balcony C stand is in dire need of repair and could not withstand the weight of even 50 fans jumping in celebration. The UPCA has agreed to comply with the PWD's directive and will not sell all the tickets for the stand.Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant has made a strong return to international cricket after recovering from a serious car accident. He scored a century in the second innings of the first Test against Bangladesh, propelling him back into the ICC Test rankings at sixth position.Yashasvi Jaiswal has also moved up the rankings to fifth place, aided by his half-century in the first innings of the Bangladesh match. Rohit Sharma, however, has dropped five places to 10th position after his low scores in the first Test.In the Test bowling rankings, Sri Lanka's Prabath Jayasuriya has solidified his reputation as a top spinner, moving up five spots to eighth place after taking nine wickets against New Zealand in the Galle Test.

India's Test Trio Arrives in Kanpur for Second Bangladesh TestIndia's head coach Gautam Gambhir, wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, and star batter Virat Kohli have arrived in Kanpur ahead of the second Test against Bangladesh, scheduled to commence on Friday at the Green Park Stadium.Gambhir's tenure as Test head coach began with a resounding 280-run victory in Chennai. Pant, returning to Test cricket, impressed with a 109-run knock in the second innings, showcasing his aggressive and defensive prowess. He also contributed 39 runs in the first innings.Kohli, however, had a disappointing outing in Chennai, scoring only 6 and 17 in the two innings. He was dismissed by Hasan Mahmud in the first innings and Mehidy Hasan Miraz in the second.Ravichandran Ashwin emerged as the 'Player of the Match' in the first Test, scoring a crucial 113 in the first innings and taking six wickets in the second, helping India secure a comprehensive victory on the fourth day.The Indian team will be looking to continue their winning momentum in Kanpur and seal the series against Bangladesh. The Green Park Stadium has been a happy hunting ground for India, with the team winning their last three Tests there.

India's resounding victory in the first Test against Bangladesh has propelled them to the summit of the World Test Championship (WTC) standings. As they prepare for the second Test in Kanpur, the team's fielding coach, T Dilip, has lauded the exceptional catches taken in the first match.Dilip praised Virat Kohli's unwavering practice ethic, highlighting the intensity and focus he brings to both practice and match situations. He also commended KL Rahul's anticipation and skill in taking a catch in the slips, describing it as a textbook example of following the ball.Yashashvi Jaiswal's remarkable catch was hailed as one of the best ever. Dilip described it as a testament to Jaiswal's agility and hand-eye coordination, as he ran forward and took a low, dipping ball with one hand.Shubman Gill's fielding abilities were also praised. Dilip noted his versatility and composure, particularly in taking a catch from short midwicket. Gill's skills make him a valuable asset in the field, capable of handling various positions with ease.Dilip further highlighted KL Rahul's timing and positioning, particularly in a catch he took at mid-on. Rahul's ability to judge the ball's trajectory and time his jump perfectly adds to his reputation as a reliable fielder.As Team India prepares for the second Test, their fielding skills will undoubtedly play a crucial role. With the guidance of their dedicated fielding coach and the high standards set by seniors like Kohli, India looks to continue their winning streak and further cement their top spot in the WTC standings.