India Prepares for Second Test Against Bangladesh

The Indian cricket team wasted no time in getting down to preparation after arriving in Kanpur on September 24. On the first day of training for the upcoming 2nd Test match against Bangladesh, captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir closely examined the pitch.

As they prepared for the match commencing on Friday, September 27, Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir aimed to gauge the pitch conditions and predict its behaviour as the Test unfolds. India currently holds a 1-0 lead in the series and is looking for a clean sweep against Bangladesh to reinforce their strong home record. The team achieved a commanding 280-run victory in the first Test at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Green Park has seen India participate in 23 Tests, securing seven wins, three losses, and 13 draws.

The last Test held in Kanpur was during the 2021 series against New Zealand, which ended in a dramatic draw. India, led by Ajinkya Rahane in place of Virat Kohli, won the toss and opted to bat at Green Park. Despite an early setback losing Mayank Agarwal for 13 runs, Shubman Gill (52) and Cheteshwar Pujara (26) stabilised the innings with a 61-run partnership. However, it was the debutant Shreyas Iyer who stood out with an impressive century, scoring 105, supported by Ravindra Jadeja’s contribution of 50 runs, helping India post a total of 345 in their first innings, with Ravichandran Ashwin adding 38 runs.

New Zealand's bowlers, especially Tim Southee and Kyle Jamieson, excelled during India's innings. Southee took five wickets, utilising the overcast conditions well, while Jamieson claimed three. In response, New Zealand made a commendable start with openers Will Young (89) and Tom Latham (95) producing a solid 151-run partnership. The stability faltered after Ashwin dismissed Young, and Axar Patel bowled Latham just short of a century. The middle order struggled, with Axar taking five wickets and Ashwin three, as New Zealand was all out for 296, leaving India with a slender 49-run lead.

India's second innings began shakily, with Southee and Jamieson dismantling the batting order to leave the hosts at 51/5. However, Shreyas Iyer (65) and Wriddhiman Saha (61) rescued the innings with a crucial partnership, allowing India to declare at 234/7 and setting New Zealand a steep target of 284 runs. The chase proved challenging for New Zealand as they found themselves at 155/9, thanks to Ashwin and Jadeja's efforts. Nevertheless, debutant Rachin Ravindra (18) and Ajaz Patel (2) held on, batting out the final overs to draw the match, which concluded dramatically due to bad light just eight minutes before the end of play on the final day.