3 things Bangladesh need to do right to bounce back on Day 2 of IND vs BAN 1st Test 2024
Bangladesh had a mixed day to kickstart their tour of India, and the more frustrating part for them is it has been a common trend. The Bangla Tigers have often pushed the opposition to the ropes, only to fizzle out of steam when it matters, and fail to close it out.
It has proven to be costly for Bangladesh on several occasions, and the first day of the series opener at the MA Chidambaram Stadium may prove to be the same. The Najmul Hossain Shanto-led side played the first half of the day to absolute perfection.
Winning the toss, unleashing the pacers, and making easy work of the colossal Indian batting all went to plan, maybe even better than anticipated. However, allowing the Men in Blue to end the day on 339-6 after reducing them to 144-6 is unforgivable, even if the experienced pair of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja did the damage.
Bangaldesh have made a mountain for themselves by digging their own grave, and need a resounding comeback before the game slips from their hands entirely.
On that note, let us look at three things Bangladesh need to do right to bounce back on Day 2 of the IND vs BAN 1st Test 2024.
#1 Make the new ball count and improve the over-rate
Bangladesh ended Day 1 on exactly 80 overs, giving them a shot at going for the new ball early on Day 2. The visitors will be eager for the same considering the clobbering by Ashwin and Jadeja in the final session of the opening day.
Although the seamers will not have the luxury of a cloud cover as prominent as Day 1, they will welcome the new ball as a weapon to break the mammoth partnership. A bit of movement or one magic delivery might be enough to unnerve the batters who will have to adjust to the conditions again on Day 2.
Playing three seamers was expected to affect the over rate, but such a drastic drop-off was perhaps unexpected. Bangladesh only chipped in with 23 overs in the first session, and the slow over rate could very well come back to bite them.
They were recently sanctioned for maintaining a slow over-rate during the tour of Pakistan, and another similar offense would be detrimental.
#2 Utilize the improved batting conditions
If Bangladesh's plans with the new ball come to fruition, they will hope to bowl out India in the first session. This brings the Bangladesh batters into play against perhaps an above-par score on the surface, taking the opposition bowling attack into account.
Furthermore, Bangladesh's first-innings performance with the bat will be crucial since they have to bat last in these conditions. The better they bat the first time, the more luxury they will have during the run chase when the pitch might become treacherous.
The visitors will have to face India's pace trio and spin twins but have the slight advantage of batting when conditions are a tad better than the opening day. The change was evident when the cloud cover vanished and the sun came into play, the duo of Ashwin and Jadeja were largely untroubled, and the Bangladesh batters should be able to have a say in such conditions.
#3 Be smarter with bowling changes
While backing the seam attack in favorable conditions did make sense, the decision to hold Shakib Al Hasan until the 53rd over did not. The veteran spinner could not make an impact with the aging ball and was punished by Ashwin and Jadeja.
Bringing Shakib into play with a relatively newer ball should be on Najmul Shanto's mind, to avoid the mistake on Day 1. Similarly, as lucrative as Nahid Rana's searing deliveries with the new ball might sound, he should not be given the new ball.
The youngster is at his best when hitting the deck hard, and a brand-new ball is hardly a tool for that. Hasan Mahmud is a certified starter, capable of making the most of the new ball. From the other end, Bangladesh can either start with Taskin Ahmed or try something different by handing the spinner a new ball to see what can be conjured.
The way Bangladesh have been tangled up in their mess after seemingly getting it all together, every possible approach is on the table, and none of them can be deemed wrong.