Cricket

Indian cricket star Virat Kohli displayed his infectious enthusiasm on Day 2 of the first Test against Bangladesh in Chennai. Despite failing to score big in the first innings, Kohli's spirits remained high, as evidenced by his jovial interactions with the crowd. A viral video captured Kohli waving to the Chennai spectators, eliciting a thunderous response. Later, he even performed a brief dance after a wicket fell.Bangladesh's first innings ended with a paltry 149, trailing India by a significant 227 runs. India's bowlers dominated, with Ravichandran Ashwin claiming three wickets.In reply, India declared their second innings at 287-4, setting Bangladesh a target of 515. Centuries from Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant propelled India towards victory.Bangladesh began their chase briskly but lost wickets to reach 158-4 when bad light halted play on Day 3. Najmul Hossain Shanto and Shakib Al Hasan remained unbeaten at the crease, needing 357 runs for a win.Ashwin continued his impressive performance, taking three wickets to add to his 113 runs in India's first innings. Zakir Hasan and Shadman Islam provided a solid start for Bangladesh, but Jasprit Bumrah broke their partnership.Pant and Gill put on a dominant 167-run stand for the fourth wicket, with Pant smashing a century and Gill remaining unbeaten on 119. Pant's innings was particularly impressive, considering his recent recovery from a car crash.India is aiming to extend their lead at the top of the World Test Championship rankings, while Bangladesh seeks their first-ever Test victory against India.

Veteran all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has etched his name in Bangladesh cricket history by becoming the oldest player from his nation to feature in a Test match. At 37 years and 181 days, Shakib took the field on Day 3 of Bangladesh's first Test against India in Chennai, surpassing the previous record held by left-arm spinner Mohammad Rafique, who was 37 years and 180 days when he last played a Test in 2008.Shakib, a central figure in Bangladesh cricket for more than a decade, continues to add to his illustrious career with this latest milestone. Widely regarded as one of the game's premier all-rounders, his longevity and contribution to the team have been instrumental.While Shakib's achievement is significant, the world record for the oldest Test cricketer remains with England's Wilfred Rhodes, who played his final Test at 52 years and 165 days in 1930. Rhodes' record, as well as his remarkable 30-year Test career, stands as one of cricket's longest-lasting feats.On the field, however, Bangladesh found themselves in a tough position against a dominant Indian side. Shubman Gill led the charge on Day 3 with his seventh Test fifty, and Rishabh Pant was inching toward his 12th fifty as India surged to 141 for 3 after 40 overs, extending their lead to over 350 runs.Earlier on Day 2, India pacer Jasprit Bumrah wreaked havoc on Bangladesh's batting lineup, claiming 4 for 50 as the visitors were bundled out for a mere 149 in their first innings. Despite efforts from experienced players like Shakib (32) and wicketkeeper-batter Litton Das (22), Bangladesh struggled to mount a meaningful response to India's solid first-innings total.Shakib's inclusion in the Test team is a testament to his enduring quality and the value he brings to the side. His experience, skill, and leadership will be crucial as Bangladesh looks to navigate the challenges of the series against India.

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan's peculiar habit of biting on a mysterious thread attached to his helmet during the first Test against India in Chennai has sparked curiosity among fans and commentators alike.Shakib's unusual behavior was first noticed on Day 2 of the match, as he came out to bat with Bangladesh struggling at 4/4. The experienced batter began his innings with a couple of boundaries, but it was the helmet string that caught everyone's attention.Social media users quickly shared images of Shakib biting on the thread, speculating about its purpose. Former India cricketer Dinesh Karthik, who was commentating on the match, shed light on the reason behind Shakib's habit.According to Karthik, who learned about it from former Bangladesh skipper Tamim Iqbal, the string helps Shakib keep his head straight and prevents it from dropping towards the leg side. Shakib has previously struggled with vision problems and has consulted an ophthalmologist in London.Karthik also mentioned that Shakib has been seen biting his jersey during the Global T20 Canada. This suggests that the thread-biting habit may be a way for Shakib to cope with his eye issues.Shakib's determination to overcome his vision problems is evident in his efforts to find solutions. The thread-biting habit may seem unconventional, but it demonstrates his commitment to addressing his challenges and improving his performance on the field.

Bangladesh's promising start in the first Test against India in Chennai has been overshadowed by a potential penalty for failing to bowl the required number of overs on the opening day.The visitors had India reeling at 34 for 3 and later 144 for 6, but a remarkable partnership between Ravichandran Ashwin (102*) and Ravindra Jadeja (86*) rescued the hosts. India ended the day at 339 for 6, leaving Bangladesh in a precarious position.However, Bangladesh's troubles extend beyond the scoreboard. Despite being granted a half-hour extension in bowling, they fell 10 overs short of the target. This violation could result in a penalty from the International Cricket Council (ICC).This potential sanction adds to Bangladesh's woes, as they were recently docked three World Test Championship points and fined 15% of their match fee for being three overs short in their first Test against Pakistan.On Day 1 against India, Bangladesh managed to bowl only 80 overs, falling short in all three sessions. Cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle expressed his disapproval on social media, stating that it was "unacceptable" for Bangladesh to bowl less than 80 overs despite the extra time granted.According to ICC regulations, a team loses one World Test Championship point for each Penalty Over incurred during the Round Stage. Bangladesh's failure to meet the over quota could therefore cost them valuable points in their quest for a place in the final.The situation highlights the importance of teams adhering to the ICC's playing conditions. Bangladesh will need to address this issue promptly to avoid further penalties and maintain their chances of success in the World Test Championship.

Bangladesh's bowling landscape is undergoing a significant transformation, with two young quicks, Hasan Mahmud and Nahid Rana, leading the charge. After their impressive performance against Pakistan, they have continued to impress in the ongoing Test series against India.Mahmud, with his lively pace and exceptional seam position, has emerged as a wicket-taking threat. On the opening day of the first Test in Chennai, he claimed the prized scalps of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant. Rana, on the other hand, has used his raw pace to unsettle the Indian batters, including Yashasvi Jaiswal, whom he forced into an edge with a 148 kmph delivery.This shift towards pace bowling in Bangladesh is a deliberate strategy, according to former pacer Alamgir Kabir, who mentors both Mahmud and Rana. "We have been trying to find genuine fast bowlers for some time now," he said. "If you want to be a successful cricketing nation, you need world-class fast bowlers."Kabir credits Bangladesh's robust grassroots system for the emergence of these talented pacers. "We have a strong system where coaches and talent spotters are committed to their work," he said. "There are many talented kids playing tape-ball and tennis ball cricket who need the right encouragement."Former India batter Sridharan Sriram, who has coached Bangladesh in the past, cautioned that the young pacers need to sustain their performance. "They are talented, but the challenge is to grow into the role," he said. "Hopefully, they will have the right support."Head coach Chandika Hathurusingha believes that the pace bowlers bring a "fear factor" to the opposition. "When a bowler comes up to 150 kmph, it challenges your reaction time and decision making," he said.The rise of Mahmud, Rana, and other young pacers is gradually changing the perception of Bangladesh's bowling unit. They are adding a new dimension to the team, complementing the traditional strength of left-arm spinners.

Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto is urging his team to remain focused on the present and not dwell on their recent series victory over Pakistan as they prepare to face a formidable Indian side in the opening Test starting Thursday.Despite their impressive 2-0 away win against Pakistan, Shanto emphasized the importance of adaptability and process in order to overcome a quality team like India. "We played very good cricket against Pakistan, but that's in the past," he said. "We're here to play a new series, and we believe we can play very good cricket. We're not thinking about the outcome, but just trying to follow our processes."While conditions may vary, Shanto believes that facing a team like India, with its world-class players, requires a focus on their own strengths rather than external factors. "They're a very quality side," he said. "We're not thinking about the condition or the opponents. We're just thinking about ourselves."One of Bangladesh's key players to watch will be pacer Nahid Rana, who impressed with a match-haul of five wickets in the second Rawalpindi Test against Pakistan. However, Shanto stressed that he will not rely solely on any individual player. "He's very exciting, but I won't put my entire focus on any individual player," he said. "All the fast bowlers did a great job in Pakistan, and I hope they'll do something good here."Bangladesh has often found themselves in winning positions in white-ball cricket and even in Test matches against India, but have failed to close out games. Shanto believes that the team has gained experience and emotional control in recent years. "We're not getting too emotional," he said. "We're thinking about our game, not what will happen if we lose or win. We're just trying to give 100% every single match."Despite the potential dominance of spin on the Chepauk pitch, Shanto expressed confidence in Bangladesh's spin and pace attack. "We have a very experienced spin-bowling attack," he said. "But we also have very good pace bowlers. I'm not thinking too much about spin or pace bowling."Ultimately, Shanto believes that adaptability will be key to success. "As far as the wicket is concerned, it will be a good wicket," he said. "We will try to adapt to the wicket as soon as possible."

Bangladesh's Women's T20 World Cup squad for 2024 has undergone significant changes, with five players dropped and five new faces added. The most notable omission is experienced allrounder Rumana Ahmed, who has been replaced by uncapped top-order batter Taj Nehar.The recall of Sobhana Mostary, Shathi Rani, Fahima Khatun, and Disha Biswas adds experience and depth to the squad. Fahima, a veteran legspinner, has played in five T20 World Cups, while Rani, an opening batter, was the leading run-scorer in the recent Women's National Cricket League (NCL) T20 competition.Rumana's exclusion is attributed to her lack of aggressive batting in recent matches. Chief selector Sajjad Ahmed explained that the team needs batters who can score quickly in the T20 format.Mostary's selection, despite her recent struggles, is due to the lack of options at the No. 3 position. "She is a prospect, but she hasn't performed up to the mark," said Sajjad. "We don't have a lot of options at No. 3."The other players dropped from the squad are Rubya Haider, Shorifa Khatun, Sabikun Nahar, and Ishma Tanjim.Bangladesh's T20 World Cup campaign begins on October 3 against Scotland. The team will be hoping to improve on their performance in the 2023 edition, where they failed to progress beyond the group stage.

Bangladesh's Historic Triumph: Stunning India in the 2015 ODI SeriesIn 2015, Bangladesh made history by defeating India in a three-match ODI series, marking a significant milestone in their cricketing journey. The series, held at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka, witnessed the emergence of a young pace sensation, Mustafizur Rahman, who played a pivotal role in Bangladesh's triumph.The first ODI on June 18 proved to be a nightmare for India. Mustafizur Rahman, making his international debut, wreaked havoc on the Indian batting lineup, claiming an impressive five-wicket haul. India was restricted to a mere 228 runs, which Bangladesh comfortably chased down, winning by a convincing 79 runs.Despite the setback, India remained hopeful of a comeback in the remaining two ODIs. However, Bangladesh had other plans. In the second ODI, Mustafizur once again proved his mettle, taking six wickets for just 43 runs. India, batting first, could only manage 200 runs, which Bangladesh chased with ease, winning by six wickets and sealing the series with one match to spare.This victory was a historic moment for Bangladesh, as it marked their first-ever ODI series win against India. It was a testament to the team's growing strength and determination. The series also secured Bangladesh's qualification for the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy, adding to the significance of their triumph.Although India managed to salvage some pride with a consolation win in the third ODI, the series will always be remembered for Bangladesh's dominance and Mustafizur Rahman's breakthrough performances. The young pacer's exceptional skills and ability to swing the ball both ways made him an instant sensation, and his performances in the series played a crucial role in Bangladesh's historic victory.

Bangladesh's recent triumph over Pakistan has instilled a renewed sense of confidence within the team as they prepare to face India in a two-match Test series. Having achieved a historic victory in Pakistan, Bangladesh is now aiming to conquer India and complete a remarkable South Asian double.Bangladesh's fighting spirit was evident in their Pakistan series, particularly in the second Test in Rawalpindi. After being reduced to 26-6, they staged a miraculous recovery to turn the tables on Pakistan. Their determination and resilience will be crucial in the upcoming Chennai Test.India's spin-friendly conditions could pose a challenge for Bangladesh, but the visitors boast a formidable spin attack of Shakib Al Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, and Taijul Islam. These three slow bowlers have the ability to exploit favorable conditions and pose a significant threat to India's batting lineup.While Bangladesh's pace attack may not be as experienced as India's, they gained confidence from their performance in the second Pakistan Test, where they claimed all 10 wickets in the second innings. The pace bowlers will be eager to prove their worth against India's formidable batting lineup.Bangladesh's experienced players, such as Shakib and Mushfiqur Rahim, will provide guidance and leadership in pressure situations. The team's core group has accumulated a wealth of experience, which will be invaluable in handling crucial moments.Bangladesh's players are familiar with the conditions in Chennai, having played in the 2023 ODI World Cup against New Zealand. This familiarity will give them an advantage as they seek to challenge India on their home turf.With a potent spin attack, a fighting spirit, and experienced players, Bangladesh is confident of giving India a run for their money in the upcoming Test series. They are determined to make history and achieve their first Test victory on Indian soil.