Who said what - top 5 expert reactions to India's win vs Bangladesh in 1st Test ft. Dinesh Karthik
India beat Bangladesh by a whopping margin of 280 runs in the first Test at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday, September 22. India lead the series 1-0, with the second Test slated to be played in Kanpur from September 27.
Ravichandran Ashwin, with a century in the first innings and a six-wicket haul in the second, was the Player of the Match. India were also helped by centuries from Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant in their second dig.
A lot of experts across the world weighed in about this stupendous showing by India, with several going as far as to say that they look primed for the tour of Australia coming up later in the year.
In this listicle, we take a look at the top five expert reactions to India's massive victory:
#1 Dinesh Karthik
Former India star Dinesh Karthik was effusive in his praise for Ravichandran Ashwin's performance in this Test. He was quick to point out that he is a legend of the sport, who should not be treated as harshly as he is.
Ashwin, Karthik felt, has done everything needed of him in his career, and showcased in this Test in Chennai that he can do the job for India both with the bat and the ball in hand.
"Ashwin and Chennai - it is a love story made in heaven. I say this because I have known him from his childhood. Every time he stepped out for Tamil Nadu, he was a phenomenal off-spinner. Today, he showcased how he can bring his A-game to the fore whenever needed," said Karthik in a video discussion with Harsha Bhogle for Cricbuzz.
"Some of the records he has tumbled are flabbergasting, to say the least, You need to put him up there among the greatest to have played this game. Sometimes, I feel that we are a tad unfair towards him but one only needs to look at the record he boasts of," he added.
#2 Sanjay Manjrekar
Former India and Mumbai batter Sanjay Manjrekar applauded India for their stupendous showing against Bangladesh but mentioned that they must keep the same approach going in the second Test in Kanpur as well.
The 59-year-old called for India to rethink their strategy and bring Kuldeep Yadav back into the playing XI as well. He felt that Yadav could add some depth to the side even if India are playing on green pitches.
"I feel Kuldeep Yadav should not be dropped so easily. Even if it was not a turner, India would have benefited from playing him in Chennai because seamers get help for just one or one-and-a-half days on an Indian pitch. It starts supporting spinners after that, and when you have a bowler like Kuldeep Yadav, you should not keep him out this easily," Manjrekar told ESPN Cricinfo.
"India should go with this approach in Kanpur. Even if it's a green top and the sun is out, they should keep in mind that the green top will be just for the first few hours, and Siraj and Bumrah are enough for that. When you have three proven spinners, you should play all of them," he added.
#3 Basit Ali
Former Pakistan batter Basit Ali was among the chosen few across the world who both applauded India and derided Pakistan for their inability to string together a good showing against Bangladesh earlier this year.
When the Bangla Tigers visited Pakistan in August, they whitewashed the hosts 2-0 in the bilateral Test series played between the two nations. Basit referred to this embarrassing loss while speaking on his YouTube channel and praised the Indian team.
“Bumrah picked 5 wickets in the game, Ashwin took 6 wickets, Jadeja clinched 5, Siraj took 2 and Akash Deep claimed 2 wickets. This is the account of 20 wickets. The bowlers ticked all the boxes. India played two spinners, keeping in mind that the ball will spin and it happened. So the credit goes to the pitch curators, who know how to make a Test match surface. Not like us… I am not going to that side but I am filled with anger (sic),” Basit said on his YouTube channel.
“In our nation, they say there is no value of the pitch. They are illiterate people. The one who have played cricket with pride are there on the Board (PCB). This is what I get angry (about). What are you teaching to the kids? 50 per cent of the issue is solved if you read the pitch well, ask Sunil Gavaskar and Javed Miandad. But these people don’t understand,” he added.
#4 Zaheer Khan
Former India seamer Zaheer Khan, as was his wont, praised the bowlers of the home team for their extraordinary showing in the first Test in Chennai. Zaheer felt that they stepped up when needed the most and did the job well.
"Overall, India's bowlers did extremely well. It was a fantastic performance. When you were bowling in the first innings, there was not much assistance from the pitch. Yet, you had to show aggression with the ball in hand - all Indian bowlers, including Bumrah, Siraj and Akash Deep, did well in the first innings. In the second innings, we saw how Ashwin contributed and showed his class. Overall, if you ask me, I will give 10/10 to this bowling attack," said Zaheer in a video discussion with Cricbuzz.
#5 Aakash Chopra
Former India opener Aakash Chopra, speaking to the TV channel Colors Cineplex, dug deep into individual performances and felt that Ravindra Jadeja is the best all-rounder in the world at the moment.
The former Delhi batter stressed that although Ashwin performed exceedingly well in this Test, Jadeja has shown over the years that he can adapt well in all three departments - batting, bowling and fielding.
“If we talk about absolute cold stats and the last two years of cricket, he is the No. 1 Test all-rounder in the world. There is no better all-rounder than him at the moment. Of course, because Ashwin scored a century and picked up a five-wicket haul in this match, it will be discussed more,” Chopra said on Colors Cineplex.
“However, if you do a man-to-man comparison and see who is the best all-rounder in the world at the moment in Test cricket, it is Ravindra Jadeja. Ravindra Jadeja's evolution has been incredible because when he started, he was also a batter (just like Ashwin), an amazing fielder, and used to bowl so fast that you used to ask, How would he pick up wickets?” he asked.
“There was an asterisk against his name, that if the conditions are favorable, Jaddu would pick up wickets, but if he didn't get them (favorable conditions), then sorry. He changed it in this ground itself. He picked up seven wickets against England on the last day, the game in which Karun Nair scored a triple hundred,” Chopra concluded.