India’s ace spinner Ravindra Jadeja claimed his 300th Test wicket on day four of the rain-affected Test in Kanpur, helping bowl out Bangladesh for 233 in their first innings. The match, held on September 30, saw Jadeja dismiss Khaled Ahmed, caught and bowled, in the afternoon session to reach this significant milestone. Bangladesh’s left-hander Mominul Haque remained unbeaten on 107.
Jadeja entered the match with 299 wickets to his name, needing just one more to reach 300. He achieved this feat in his 74th Test, becoming only the seventh Indian bowler to claim 300 wickets in Test cricket. Leading the illustrious list is Anil Kumble, who sits atop with 619 Test dismissals.
India’s fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah played a crucial role, taking three wickets in Bangladesh’s innings. Meanwhile, Mohammed Siraj, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Akash Deep each took two wickets, providing strong support for Jadeja.
Bangladesh’s Struggle and Rain Delays
The rain had heavily disrupted the match, with no play possible on September 28 and 29 due to rain and a wet outfield. Bangladesh resumed their innings on September 30 under clear skies at 107-3. Mominul Haque, who started the day unbeaten on 40, went on to score his 13th Test century before lunch. He reached his milestone by striking a boundary off Ashwin and celebrated by removing his helmet and bowing in acknowledgment.
Bumrah started the day with an aggressive and accurate spell, dismissing Mushfiqur Rahim for 11. He bowled a delivery that pitched, nipped back, and clipped the top of Mushfiqur’s off-stump, giving India a vital breakthrough. Litton Das then walked in and launched a counterattack, hitting three consecutive boundaries off Bumrah in one over.
However, Litton’s aggressive approach was short-lived. Siraj delivered a crucial breakthrough when skipper Rohit Sharma pulled off a brilliant one-handed catch at mid-off to send Litton back to the pavilion for 13. The crowd roared in approval of Rohit’s superb effort in the field.
Ashwin Strikes as Shakib Departs
Bangladesh’s captain, Shakib Al Hasan, came in at number six but could only manage to score nine runs before getting out. Ashwin bowled a deceptive delivery, and Siraj held on to a sharp catch while running backward from mid-off, ending Shakib’s stay at the crease. The 37-year-old Shakib, who had announced his retirement from international cricket on September 26, may have played his final Test match if he does not return for the upcoming series against South Africa.
Jadeja then cleaned up the tail, with his final delivery of the innings sending Khaled Ahmed back to the dressing room. This wicket marked Jadeja’s 300th Test scalp, securing his place among India’s bowling greats. He became only the seventh Indian bowler to reach the landmark, joining the ranks of legends like Anil Kumble, Kapil Dev, and Harbhajan Singh.
India in Control of the Series
The first two days of the Test match were frustratingly curtailed, with only 35 overs of play possible on the opening day before bad light forced the umpires to take the players off the field shortly after lunch. The interruptions due to the rain and poor light had left the Test hanging in balance, but India’s bowlers dominated the proceedings when play resumed on day four.
India currently leads the two-match Test series 1-0, having won the first Test in Chennai by a commanding margin of 280 runs. Their victory in Chennai was built on excellent all-around performances, including significant contributions from both the batsmen and bowlers. Now, with a strong showing on day four in Kanpur, they are in a solid position to push for a series win.
The final day of the Test will likely see India looking to bat quickly and build a lead before attempting to bowl out Bangladesh again.
