Virat Kohli, India’s batting mainstay, will be under the spotlight as the team takes on Bangladesh in the second and final Test of their series. India, currently atop the World Test Championship (WTC) standings, will aim to secure a 2-0 series victory, while Kohli and skipper Rohit Sharma will be eager to rediscover their batting form after a disappointing outing in the first Test.
In the series opener at Chennai, India dominated Bangladesh, winning by 280 runs. However, Kohli and Rohit struggled, scoring only 6 and 5 in the first innings and 6 and 17 in the second, respectively. Since then, the duo has been working diligently in the nets at Kanpur’s Green Park Stadium to regain their rhythm.
Kohli, in particular, will be desperate to end his prolonged lean patch. In 15 matches across formats this year, he has managed just 319 runs, including a single half-century. His form is crucial for India’s success in the upcoming season, which includes eight more Tests: three against New Zealand at home and five in Australia.
Kanpur has been a happy hunting ground for India, with the team remaining unbeaten since 1983. Kohli and Rohit will be determined to join the list of centurions from the first Test, which includes Ravichandran Ashwin, Rishabh Pant, and Shubman Gill.
India’s bowling attack, led by Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav, will also be keen to continue their impressive performance. In the first Test, they dismissed Bangladesh for 150 and 231, respectively.
Bangladesh, on the other hand, will be looking to salvage some pride after their heavy defeat in Chennai. Skipper Mominul Haque and opener Tamim Iqbal will need to lead from the front and provide their team with a solid foundation.
The second Test promises to be an intriguing contest, with India aiming to extend their dominance and Bangladesh determined to prove their mettle.
