India’s dominance in world cricket across all formats over the past five years has been widely recognized by legendary players. One of the key factors attributed to this success is the emergence of quality fast bowlers, a traditional weakness for India.
Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja praised India’s all-round strength, highlighting their ability to recover from adversity. On the first day of the Chennai Test against Bangladesh, India was reduced to 34 for 3 and then 144 for 6, but they rallied to post a competitive 376.
“India has become a great team,” said Raja. “They don’t lose when they play at home.”
Ravichandran Ashwin’s attacking century and his 199-run partnership with Ravindra Jadeja (86) played a crucial role in India’s recovery. Ashwin’s century and Jadeja’s 80s helped India score at a brisk pace and put pressure on the Bangladesh bowlers.
Raja also praised the five-wicket haul of young pacer Hasan Mahmud, but noted that Bangladesh needs an all-round bowling strength to challenge teams like India.
After being bowled out on the second morning, India took control with the ball. Jasprit Bumrah struck in the first over to remove Shadman Islam, and Akash Deep took two wickets off consecutive deliveries to reduce Bangladesh to 26 for 3 at lunch.
India’s dominance is a testament to their depth and quality in all departments. The emergence of fast bowlers has added a new dimension to their game, making them a formidable force in world cricket.
