Since Bangladesh got their Test status back in 2000, they never settled in this format of the game comfortably. It’s been 19 long years and Bangladesh are still miles behind from achieving the quality of elite Test teams. Questions are now being raised whether Bangladesh is really good enough or qualified enough to play Test cricket.
In Indore on Day 1 of first Test against India yesterday, yet another story of shambolic batting was added to Bangladesh’s Test history, as India run riot over Bangladesh batsmen and dismissed them for a mere 150 run in the first innings. The series is Bangladesh's first in the new world Test championship and it certainly started in a mediocre fashion. Replying to Bangladesh’s 150, India lost skipper Rohit Sharma early, but a 72-run stand between Cheteshwar Pujara and Mayank Agarwal put India under control as they now trail by 64 runs with 9 wickets to spare.
After winning the toss, Bangladesh skipper Mominul Haque opted to bat first. Everyone witnessed how Tigers toothless batting fell apart in front of India’s ruthless bowling attack. It was pacer Mohammed Shami, who led an inspired pace bowling attack to rip apart Tigers batting. Shami scalped three wickets, while fellow pacemen Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav took a brace each to pack off the tourists.
A 50-plus-run fourth-wicket stand between Mushfiqur Rahim and Mominul Islam was the best Bangladesh could get. Mominul made 37 and Mushfiqur, dropped by Kohli early on, made 43.
After launch session, they lost three wickets for 63. However, it was after launch when the collapse occurred. Mushfiqur Rahim put up a brief resistance with his 43, but Shami struck on successive deliveries to stop the Bangladesh tail from wagging.
Shami bowled Mushfiqur and then trapped new man Mehidy Hasan lbw, prompting the umpires to break for tea. Sharma struck on the first ball after the break to get Liton Das caught for 21.
Taijul Islam then played out Shami’s hat-trick ball, but was later run out for one. Yadav cleaned up Ebadat Hossain to wrap up the innings in 58.3 overs.