IND vs BAN: 5 big takeaways for India from test series against Bangladesh

India won the two-match IND vs BAN test series by 2-0, with R Ashwin bagging the Man of the Series award.

The Indian cricket team extended their home dominance by whitewashing Bangladesh in the two-match IND vs BAN test series.

India won by the first test in Chennai by 280 runs and the second test in Kanpur by seven wickets. Senior off-spinner Ravi Ashwin was adjudged the Player of the Series for picking 11 wickets, the joint-most with Jasprit Bumrah, and scoring a century in the Chennai test.

This series gave a lot of positives for team India, heading into tougher assignments: three tests at home against New Zealand and five tests in Australia.

In this article, we will look at five biggest positives for Rohit Sharma’s team from the IND vs BAN test series.

IND vs BAN: 5 big takeaways for India from test series against Bangladesh

5. R Ashwin’s return to batting form

In the Chennai test, Ashwin recorded his sixth test century, and this was one of the best knocks of his career. On a pitch with extra bounce and carry, India found themselves struggling at 144/6.

From a precarious point, Ashwin and Jadeja took India to a position where they would feel safe with their partnership of 199 runs. The Tamil Nadu cricketer raised his hundred, which India helped reach 376. India eventually won the test.

Ashwin’s batting form had dipped in recent years. From 2018 to until this Chennai test, he had managed only four fifty-plus scores.

His place in the playing XI for tests in Australia is not certain as India may go with four pacers in the line-up. So his return to form with the bat would help Ashwin make a case for his selection in Australia.

4. Virat Kohli gives glimpses of return to his best

Kohli had missed the test series against England earlier this year due to the birth of his son, and then failed with the bat in all but one match at the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. He failed to cross 25-run mark in the three ODIs in Sri Lanka as well and then managed only 23 runs in the Chennai test.

There were doubts whether Kohl is past his prime. But, he allayed those fears with a couple of fluent knocks in Kanpur on a pitch that was slow and low. In India’s first innings, Kohli scored 47 off 35 and with KL Rahul prevented a collapse. In the second innings, he scored 29 off 37. During these knocks, he hit a total of eight fours and a six and looked more assured than he has done in recent past.

3. KL Rahul makes solid comeback

Rahul had missed the last four tests against England due to an injury and didn’t do anything of note in the ODIs in Sri Lanka either, while being dropped from the T20I side. He played a couple of gritty knocks in the Duleep Trophy and his 22* (19) in India’s second innings in Chennai left the fans wanting for more.

But the best of Rahul on his return was showcased in Kanpur, where he cracked 68 off 43 balls, stylishly creaming seven fours and two sixes and taking India past Bangladesh’s total at a quick rate.

Kohli and Rahul would take a lot of confidence from their knocks in Kanpur heading into the New Zealand test series.

2. Akash Deep’s promise ahead of Australia tour

Akash Deep was perhaps India’s biggest positive takeaway from the IND vs BAN test series. After picking up three wickets in his debut test against England, Deep produced a couple of more impressive performances against Bangladesh.

He turned out to be a huge threat to the Bangladeshi openers – dismissing both Zakir Hasan and Shadman Islam twice each in this series.

After terrific bowling performances in the IND vs BAN test series, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that Akash Deep has cemented his place in the squad for the Australia tour.

1. Rishabh Pant’s stunning comeback

The much-awaited comeback of Rishabh Pant to test cricket from his life-threatening car accident was completed during the IND vs BAN test series.

In Chennai, he scored 39 off 52 in India’s first innings before cracking a superb century in the second innings. Pant scored 109 off 128, taking India’s lead past 500 runs. He walloped 13 fours and four sixes in his century, showcasing all the shots that he used to play before his accident.

It was fitting that Pant sealed the series in Kanpur with a boundary.

India’s batting order that carried questions ahead of the IND vs BAN test series is now shaping up confidently ahead of the New Zealand and Australia series.

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