India’s pitchers made 40 hits on the expected line but their tendency to wag their tails nearly cost them second place Test which was won by three wicks.
Wednesday’s surface was challenging but beating 145 should still be an easy job for India. Instead, they chose to use super defensive techniques on the track that should have been the last option.
In a little chase, letting that kind of thinking allow the Bangladeshi cinematographers to master the process.
A special place between Shreyas Iyer and Ravichandran Ashwin saved for India but the leaders’ below-average performances and a few tactical blunders raise questions for the tougher test that awaits them in the upcoming home series against Australia.
India doesn’t need to copy England’s extremely aggressive play, commonly known as ‘Bazball’, but Rahul and Co should have at least scored while chasing 145.
Chasing 167 on tough ground in Karachi, England ended the match by racing for a 112th for two out of 17 tree stumps on day three. In the end, they ‘shot down’ the target within just 28.1 the next morning.
India’s top order doesn’t need hammer and tongs like the British but it can do more than just defend against aggressive Bangladeshi spinners.
Captain Rahul never looked secure in midfield and was eliminated from the start in two innings. His place in the First Test against Australia in February looks uncertain.
Shubman Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara try to step out of line against the official Mehidy Hasan Miraz but failed miserably. The current generation’s struggles against the vortex are not new and their overwhelmingly poor display against Miraz and Co will only make the much more successful Nathan Lyon lick his lips before the series opener in Nagpur.
Virat Kohli’s greatness is undeniable, but one of his 22 balls on Tuesday was an inning he himself would have liked to forget. He doesn’t do sweeps very often but is very good at using sharp lines.
However, he only chose to protect things with his front foot and it was only a matter of time before he received the ball bearing his number.
Among the tactical errors, the failure to play Kuldeep Yadav after the 8-stroke in his Return Test stood out.
The third spinner on the spin could have helped India end the game on the very third day.
The opening match was won by a margin but that could have been ended sooner had Rahul opted to make the sequel.
With the final appearance of the World Test Championship at stake, India will need to be much more aggressive with their approach while making the talk of “positive purpose” not Offers brokerage services only.
