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IND vs BAN: Runs and ruins! Indian batters Jaiswal, Kohli and Rahul destroy Bangladesh on Day 4 of Kanpur Test

Rain and storm, one got to see it in different shades at Green Park. After two days of misery and zero play, what was unleashed by the Indian batters was nothing short of devastation.

The power play - no reference to what happens in white ball cricket - was defining as young Yashasvi Jaiswal, skipper Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and even Virat Kohli went on the rampage on Day four of the second Test against Bangladesh. And for all those who thought this match would be 'lost' to the weather, a result is still possible on Tuesday (October 1).

IND vs BAN Runs and ruins Indian batters Jaiswal Kohli and Rahul destroy Bangladesh on Day 4 of Kanpur Test

Back to manic Monday (September 30), the way India restricted Bangladesh for 233, was defining. But the big deal was to come out smoking and score runs at such a fast pace, records tumbled. To accelerate and score runs, the fastest 50, 100 and 200 was a treat to watch. It showed beast mode from the Indian kings out there in the middle and how they could convert a Test match into a T20 feast of sorts.

People who have watched Test cricket over the decades will vouch for the arrogance of Viv Richards, the gum-chewing West Indian, who would smash bowlers. It did not matter to him even if the opponents were England and the bowling attack comprised Bob Willis, Ian Botham and Derek Underwood.

Richards in beast mode was a sight to watch, full of raw power and yet classy. Unlike these days, the bat then was different and Richards had to rely more on his own power and acceleration to plunder runs. But then, that was also an era where his skipper Clive Lloyd would also hammer the ball, the left-handed bat carrying so much weight.

Much later, people watched Virender Sehwag smash Pakistan, with a triple ton in Multan in March 2004 becoming part of folklore. How he did it, only he knew. Sehwag was a natural batsman, his hand-eye coordination perfect. Of course, once Sehwag needed vision correction - spectacles and contact lenses -- he was never the same batsman again.

If one looks at Jaiswal, he has shown such class and intent even last year in the West Indies. How he does it, not the story, really. He bats that way and has been given the freedom to express himself by the skipper and team management.

To call Jaiswal explosive is mild, he is actually dynamite. For India to score 285 runs in 34.4 overs comes to a run rate of 8.22. You don't find that kind of scoring pattern even in the T20 format at the club level. Well, that's what India did on Monday, treating all the Bangladesh bowlers so harshly. Hasan Mahmud gave 66 runs in six overs, Khaled Ahmed went for 43 runs in four overs and Shakib Al Hasan also suffered.

If Jaiswal was fired up, Rohit Sharma scored 23 runs in 11 balls. He bats like this in almost every format, which fans have seen in the ICC T20 World Cup as well as in the West Indies. Virat Kohli and KL Rahul also were on fire, scoring 47 and 68 respectively.

This kind of batting was like a treat for fans who were frustrated for two days thanks to rain, bad covers and a poor drainage system. From beyond the boundary, it looked so easy but the execution was well-planned.

At a time when the Indian T20 team has been announced for the series against Bangladesh, which is to follow, Test cricket on Monday was like a teaser. The composition of the team will be different. As much as this run spree on Monday was exhilarating, it also showed Bangladesh in poor light.

And for those who coined Bazball in England, what India did on Day 4 in Kanpur was Bazball 2.0. Smash, plunder and finish the morale of the bowlers from Bangladesh. Now, please don't talk of this side having defeated Pakistan recently!

Story first published: Monday, September 30, 2024, 19:16 [IST]
Other articles published on Sep 30, 2024
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