On the third day of the second Test against Bangladesh in Mirpur on Saturday, India were in a difficult position at stumps. In the second Test on Saturday, Bangladesh spinners, led by skipper Shakib Al Hasan and young Mehidy Hasan Miraz, forced Indian batsmen to press the panic button in a tricky chase for 145. The visitors ended an exciting third day of play at 45 for 4 and lost the match.
While the stodgy Cheteshwar Pujara (6) suffered his downfall due to his anxiousness to negate any turn offered, KL Rahul (2), who had a terrible game as both a skipper and a batter, would like to forget this game quickly. India's anxiety increased when Shubman Gill (7) had his worst tour day.
In the case of Rahul, he tentatively poked a Shakib delivery (1/21 in 6 overs) that turned so much that it kissed the outside edge of his bat into the gloves of the keeper.
With his strategy of sending night watchman Axar Patel (26 batting) with more than 15 overs left, India's head coach Rahul Dravid made it clear that there was a certain amount of nervousness about what would happen if Virat Kohli would be run out in the third evening itself (1 off 22 balls). Kohli had no choice but to come out late in the evening as the pitch was beginning to resemble a snake pit with deliveries hissing past the willow, and Gill was stumped off a doosra, becoming Miraz's second victim.
Similar to what happens with turners, the close-in fielders started putting more pressure on batters and umpires, and Kohli had to use a DRS to avoid being called out leg before Taijul Islam. However, Miraz bowled a lovely flighted delivery that moved Kohli forward and resulted in a classic bat-pad catch for Mominul Haque, who was standing at forward short-leg. He was only one delivery away from being dismissed. Bangladesh players wildly applauded the dismissal, and Kohli was clearly unimpressed. He even discussed it with Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan.
If they overhaul 145, it will be third highest successful fourth innings chase at this ground as the top three winning scores are 209, 205 and 103.
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