[Watch] R Ashwin traps Najmul Hossain Shanto LBW right after lunch during IND vs BAN 2024 2nd Test
Team India senior spinner Ravichandran Ashwin gave his side a much-needed breakthrough in the second session to dismiss Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto in the ongoing second Test in Green Park, Kanpur. The captain, along with Mominu Haque, had put on a promising partnership after Akash Deep struck twice early in the contest.
Bangladesh were reeling at 29/2 in the 13th over after being put into bat, when Najmul came out to bat at No.4. The left-handed batter showed intent from the word go, scoring three boundaries off his first six deliveries. He joined forces with Mominul Haque to ensure that Bangladesh ended the first session with no further casualties.
Off-spinner Ashwin kickstarted the proceedings in the second session after lunch. It did not take long for the veteran to open his account in the Test as he struck in his very first over. Ashwin bowled a delivery that drifted into the left-handed batter and went with the arm instead of turning after pitching.
Najmul played for turn and did not make any contact with the bat. The ball hit him straight on the front pad, well below the knee roll. The umpire gave into the appeal while the Bangladesh skipper went for a review.
The decision was a straightforward one, meaning that Bangladesh squandered a review. Even if the LBW decision would have been redundant in case of an inside edge, it would not have made a difference in the decision as Gill had caught the ball at slip.
Have a look at the dismissal right here:
Bangladesh have been reduced to 80-3 after 29 overs following the dismissal. Najmul Shanto departed after scoring 31 runs off 57 deliveries, including six fours.
R Ashwin becomes the second leading wicket-taker in Asia after dismissing Najmul Shanto
Ashwin scripted yet another record on Day 1 of the Kanpur Test with his first dismissal in the contest. After trapping Shanto LBW, Ashwin's wicket-tally in Asia reached 420, overtaking India's Anil Kumble in the process. The off-spinner is now second on the all-time list behind Muttiah Muralitharan, standing tall at 612 scalps.
The experienced Mushfiqur Rahim has joined Mominul Haque at the crease after Najmul's departure. As of writing, the visitors are placed at 94-3 after 33 overs, with Ashwin continuing to probe from one end.