India vs Bangladesh 1st Test: KL Rahul-led Team India beats host by 188 runs; takes 1-0 lead in 2-match series
India bowled Bangladesh out for 324 on the fifth and final day to win the first Test by 188 runs and take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series here on Sunday.
Bangladesh added 52 runs in 11.2 overs in the morning session and lost four wickets in the process after resuming the day on 272 for six while chasing an improbable 513 for a win.
Wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav registered his career-best match figures as India quickly wrapped up Bangladesh's second innings. He scalped two of the remaining four batters while Mohammed Siraj and Axar Patel took one wicket each.
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WHAT. A. WIN!#TeamIndia put on an impressive show to win the first #BANvIND Test by 188 runs
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/CVZ44N7IRe pic.twitter.com/Xw9jFgtsnm
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 18, 2022
Kuldeep, who cherished an impressive five-wicket haul in the first innings, added three more wickets in the second Bangladesh innings to finish with match figures of 8 for 113.
"I love bowling with Kookaburra balls, it gives me better grip and control, compared to the SG ball," said Kuldeep after the win.
"If I were not playing cricket, it would have been very challenging but I have played a lot of white-ball matches. I have played IPL and with red ball India A matched, so my rhythm was set.
"I could bowl with aggressive approach and in this rhythm, you need to make extra effort and it takes a toll on body," he said.
"I like playing all formats of cricket for India, nothing matches that pride. When I don't play I keep training so that the confidence remains intact in matched but I stay relaxed," he added.
Kuldeep was ably supported by left-arm spinner Patel, who finished with figures of 4 for 77 in the second innings.
With this win, India have climbed to the third place in the World Test Championship points table, pushing Sri Lanka to the fourth position.
India now have 87 points with 55.77 percentage (PCT) while Sri Lanka have 64 points and 53.33 PCT.
Australia lead the table with 75 PCT and are followed by South Africa (60 PCT)
Resuming at the overnight score of 276 for 6, Bangladesh skipper Shakib-Al-Hasan came all out attacking, knowing very well it would not be easy to just survive the whole day.
He went for his shots to score 84, studded with six fours and as many hits over the fence in his 108-ball stay.
But the Indians played the patient game. KL Rahul, who registered his first Test win as skipper, started with pace-spin combination of Siraj (1/67) and Patel.
Bangaldesh batters started aggressively as Mehidy Hasan Miraz delightfully drove Siraj through the covers in his first over for the day's first boundary.
At the other end, Shakib made his intentions clear, clobbering Patel over square leg.
But Siraj had his man in his next over as Mehidy fell to a loose shot.
Siraj sprayed the ball outside the off-stump again and Mehidy only managed to slash the delivery straight to Umesh Yadav at backward point.
Shakib brought up his 30th Test fifty with a straight six off Patel.
Shakib took his chances but the asking was too tall as Rahul introduced Kuldeep as the first change and the left-arm spinner picked up two wickets in consecutive overs, while Patel picked another as India ended Bangladesh's dogged resistance.
Kuldeep first cleaned up Shakib as the batter went for another slog sweep over extra cover and then had Ebadat Hossain caught by Shreyas Iyer.
Axar completed the formalities by going through the defence of Taijul Islam.
The second and final Test starts on December 22 in Mirpur.
Brief Scores:
India: 404 and 258/2.
Bangladesh: 150 and 324 all out in 113.2 overs (Zakir Hasan 100, Shakib Al Hasan 84; Axar Patel 4/77, Kuldeep Yadav 3/73).
With PTI Inputs
10:47 am