India defeated Bangladesh in the 1st Test and is still in the race for the World Test Championship finale. Indian batters like Pujara, Gill, and gave a complete performance and important wickets from Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel on the last day helped them lead the series.
The visitors won the opening match of the two-match Test series despite Bangladesh’s last four wickets falling all before midday on the last day, despite a valiant rearguard effort by veteran Shakib Al Hasan (84).
“We’ve been here for a while, and the one-day series didn’t go how we wanted it to. A hard-fought Test, and really happy we won. The pitch did flatten out – it did worry us – but in the first few innings, it was difficult to get runs. Important that the lower order contributes. Shubman and Puji utilised the opportunity and got hundreds. Seamers got wickets in the first innings… we’ve always had a good bowling attack.”– Winning captain KL Rahul said
On the final day of the first test, Axar Patel’s figure was 4/77 and Kuldeep Yadav’s was 3/73 and India wrapped up the game in 50 minutes. Siraj dismissed Mehidy while he chased a wide delivery. Bangladesh scalped just four wickets. Shakib- Al Hasan and Mehidy Hasan remained unbeaten while 241 runs were still remaining. Mehidy smashed a boundary and Shakin Al Hasan freed himself. At the end of this clinical victory, KL Rahul took a 1-0 lead keeping the WTC final dream still alive.
India goes to No. 2 in ICC WTC 2021-23 #WTC pic.twitter.com/DAs3Szr4L8
— Jatin Gulati (72*) 🇮🇳 (@jatinininin) December 18, 2022
With India winning the first test, they received 12 points and have a winning percentage of 55.77 and currently stand at the No.2 position of the WTC rankings. Australia is reserved the top spot. Earlier in 2022, India will host Australia for four Test games in February and March next year and they need to finish in the top two places in order to feature in the WTC Championship final. In the maiden WTC final, Rohit Sharma and Co. lost against New Zealand and this seems to be a perfect opportunity to take revenge.
