Cricket

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.

Sri Lanka, riding high on their recent success, have once again opted to bat first in the second Test against New Zealand in Galle. The decision, made after winning the toss, is a testament to their confidence in their batting lineup and the spin-friendly conditions expected on the Galle pitch.Dhananjaya de Silva, Sri Lanka's captain, expressed optimism about the pitch, stating that it appeared "firmer than the last one with less grass." This suggests that the pitch may offer more bounce and carry, potentially favoring the batsmen.Sri Lanka has made two changes to their team for this Test. Milan Rathnayake, who impressed in his debut series in England, replaces Lahiru Kumara, while Nishan Peiris makes his debut in place of offspinner Ramesh Mendis. Rathnayake's inclusion adds depth to the bowling attack, while Peiris provides a like-for-like replacement for Mendis.New Zealand, on the other hand, has opted to field an unchanged team after their spirited performance in the first Test, which they lost by a narrow margin of 63 runs. The Kiwis will be eager to build on their positive display and secure a victory in Galle.The weather forecast for the match predicts short and sharp showers, but the conditions at the time of the toss were bright and sunny. Sri Lanka, currently third in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings, will be aiming for another victory to strengthen their position and move closer to Australia, who are second.New Zealand, currently fourth in the WTC standings, will be keen to improve their performance and gain momentum ahead of their upcoming tour of India. The match promises to be an exciting contest between two evenly matched teams, with both sides looking to secure a crucial victory.

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."

Indian cricket team spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has expressed surprise at the low turnout on Day 1 of the first Test encounter between India and Bangladesh in Chennai. While the crowd was quite less during the start of play, the spectators did make their way back into the stadium later in the day.In a recent interaction, Ashwin questioned the lack of crowd at the start of the match and wondered if the spectators struggled to get the tickets for the match."The ground was completely empty on the first day. I was wondering why the ground was so empty on Day 1. Virat Kept telling me that no one was coming to watch the Test match. But from that moment, there was a huge crowd. I wanted to ask you why so many people struggled to buy tickets?" Ashwin asked former cricketer and commentator Ashwath Bobo on his YouTube channel.Ashwath responded that fans were not sure whether the match will continue till Day 5 and as a result, most of them opted for daily tickets instead of a season ticket. That led to a massive queue outside the stadium and majority of the fans ended up getting late for the game."Initially, when ticket sales used to happen, they used to call it a season ticket or a day ticket. A season ticket is when you get it punched on Day 1 and you can come back for 5 days with same ticket. Many people were afraid that the match would not go on till the 4th or 5th day. So everyone had an ambiguity to buy the season ticket. So when they come to buy the day ticket, the crowd was huge. The crowd was from the Pavillion to the Pattabiram Gate," Ashwath said."So it was just one counter?" Ashwin asked."Yes there was just one counter. There were a lot of problems. When I came, there was a huge crowd in that line. But when I came, as you said, the crowd was scattered on Day 1. So, many people struggled to buy the day ticket. But as you said, yesterday was Saturday and crowd was huge. On Sunday, the crowd was there till the end of the presentation," Ashwath replied.Ashwin scored a ton and achieved a six-wicket haul to guide India to a 280-run victory.

After a brief hiatus, the Indian cricket team returned to Test whites with a resounding victory in the first Test against Bangladesh at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The 280-run triumph not only extended India's unbeaten streak in Tests but also highlighted the team's growing depth and versatility.The Indian batting unit, which has undergone a transition in recent years, showed signs of maturity and resilience. While the senior trio of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and K.L. Rahul failed to set the scoreboard ablaze, the likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill stepped up with crucial contributions. Gill's century in the second innings was particularly impressive, showcasing his ability to anchor the innings and guide the team to victory.The biggest gain for India, however, was the validation of its all-rounder zone. Wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant, spinners R. Ashwin, and Ravindra Jadeja all played pivotal roles in the team's success. Ashwin's century and his partnership with Jadeja in the first innings laid the foundation for India's dominance, while Pant's fiery ton in the second innings sealed the deal.Pant's story is a testament to his determination and resilience. After surviving a horrific car accident in December 2022, he has made a remarkable comeback, proving that he is a force to be reckoned with. His ability to alter the course of a game with his aggressive batting and fearless fielding makes him an invaluable asset to the Indian team.India's bowling attack, led by Jasprit Bumrah, was equally impressive. The pace trio of Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Akash Deep, along with the spin twins Ashwin and Jadeja, proved to be a nightmare for the Bangladeshi batters. The fielding was also top-notch, with sharp catches and quick reflexes in the outfield.As India moves to Kanpur for the second Test, Rohit Sharma's men have a chance to further emphasize their superiority. With the senior players expected to find their form and the all-rounders continuing to contribute, India is well-positioned to maintain its dominance in the Test arena.

India's dominance continued on Day 3 of the third Test against Bangladesh as they declared their innings at 287, setting a formidable target of 515 for the visitors. The decision to declare was made by skipper Rohit Sharma, who displayed confidence in his team's ability to defend the total despite the remaining two days of the Test.The declaration came after centuries from Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill, who anchored India's innings with scores of 119 and 110, respectively. KL Rahul, who was batting on 22 at the time of the declaration, expressed disappointment at not getting more time at the crease, but Pant clarified that Rohit had communicated his plan to declare an hour in advance."When we came for lunch, there was a discussion going on about the innings declaration. Rohit bhai told us, 'We will bat for 1 more hour, whoever wants to score, can do so,'" Pant explained. "So, I returned with the mindset to score runs quickly."Rohit's decision to declare was not influenced by the personnel in the middle, as he had indicated his intention to declare within a specific time frame. After the match, Rohit paid tribute to Pant, who made a remarkable comeback to the Indian Test team after a long absence."He's been through some really tough times. The way he has managed himself through those tough times was superb to watch," Rohit said. "He came back in the IPL, followed by a very successful World Cup, and this is the format he loves the most."Rohit also praised Pant's determination to prepare for the Test match by playing in the Duleep Trophy. "Credit to him as well, he went on to play Duleep Trophy and got ready for this Test match and had an impact straightaway in the game," he added.With India's bowlers in top form, Bangladesh faces an uphill task to save the Test. The hosts will need to bat with resilience and determination to avoid a heavy defeat.

New Zealand's hopes of a historic victory against Sri Lanka in the first Test in Galle were kept alive by Rachin Ravindra's unbeaten 91 on Sunday. The tourists need 68 more runs with two wickets remaining after day four, setting up a thrilling finish on Monday.Ravindra's knock, the highest by a New Zealander at the Galle International Stadium, has given the Black Caps a glimmer of hope after they were set a target of 275. However, the left-hander has lacked support from his teammates, with Kane Williamson and Tom Blundell the only other batsmen to reach 30.Sri Lanka's spinners have dominated the match, with Ramesh Mendis and Prabath Jayasuriya taking three wickets each on a sharply turning pitch. Mendis dismissed Williamson for 30, while Jayasuriya bowled Blundell for 30 to break a 56-run partnership that had threatened to take the game away from the hosts.Earlier, Ajaz Patel's six-wicket haul helped restrict Sri Lanka to 309 in their first innings. Patel's figures of 6-90 were the best by a New Zealand bowler in Sri Lanka since Daniel Vettori's 6-64 in Colombo in 1998.Dimuth Karunaratne top-scored for Sri Lanka with 83, while Angelo Matthews made 50. The match had a rest day on Saturday due to Sri Lanka's presidential elections, but fans returned after lunch when the curfew was lifted.The second and final match of the series will be held at the same venue from Thursday.

The second Test between India and Australia, held at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai from September 18 to 22, 1986, remains etched in cricket history as one of the most thrilling and unforgettable encounters. This match marked only the second time a Test ended in a tie, the first being in 1960 between Australia and the West Indies in Brisbane.Australia, led by Allan Border, batted first and amassed a formidable 574 for 7 declared. Dean Jones played a heroic innings, scoring 210 off 330 balls despite suffering from severe dehydration and heat exhaustion. His knock, regarded as one of the finest under such grueling conditions, was supported by centuries from David Boon (122) and Border himself (106).In response, India showed resilience, with Kapil Dev leading the charge with a brilliant 119. Contributions from Kris Srikkanth (53), Mohammad Azharuddin (50), and Ravi Shastri (62) helped India reach 397, but they still conceded a substantial 177-run lead.Australia, looking to set a challenging target, declared their second innings at 170 for 5, leaving India to chase 348. The final day's play turned into an unforgettable drama. Sunil Gavaskar (90), Mohinder Amarnath (51), and other Indian batsmen kept the chase alive, but it was Ravi Shastri who stood firm as wickets tumbled around him.Shastri didn't get support from the other end and remained unbeaten on 48 off 40 balls, including three fours and two sixes. With India needing just four runs and only one wicket remaining, Maninder Singh joined Shastri at the crease. In a nail-biting finish, off-spinner Greg Matthews, who bowled tirelessly in the oppressive heat, trapped Maninder LBW with the scores level, ending the match in a historic tie.Both Kapil Dev and Dean Jones were named Players of the Match for their outstanding performances. The Chennai Test of 1986 remains a testament to the unpredictable nature of cricket and the enduring spirit of the players involved.

Virat Kohli's much-anticipated return to Test cricket on home soil ended in disappointment as he was dismissed for a mere 6 runs on Day 1 of the first Test against Bangladesh in Chennai. The Indian skipper, who received a rousing ovation from the crowd at the M Chidambaram Stadium, failed to live up to expectations, playing a loose shot outside the off-stump that resulted in his dismissal. Hasan Mahmud claimed the wicket, his third of the match, as the delivery flew off Kohli's outside edge and was safely caught by wicket-keeper Litton Das.Kohli's dismissal was a major setback for India, who lost three wickets early in the first session. Rohit Sharma, the Indian captain, expressed his disappointment with the team's performance, particularly Kohli's dismissal.Earlier in the day, Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and elected to bowl, citing the moisture on the wicket and the favorable conditions for seamers. He expressed confidence in his team's ability to perform well, despite the absence of some key players.India's skipper, Rohit Sharma, indicated that he would have also chosen to bowl first if he had won the toss, acknowledging the challenging conditions. He emphasized the team's preparation and confidence heading into the match.The playing XIs for both teams were as follows:Bangladesh: Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana.India: Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj.The match is poised to be an exciting contest, with both teams looking to gain an early advantage in the series.