India play Bazball Pro Max in shortened Kanpur Test in bid to force result

India vs Bangladesh, Kanpur Test: India scored 8.22 runs per over, breaking a series of word records in a bid to force a favourable result in the rain-curtailed Test. R Ashwin weaved magic with the new ball as Bangladesh ended the day at 26 for 2, still trailing India's total by 26 runs on Monday.

In Short

• India scored 285 in just 34.4 overs, breaking multiple world records in the process
• India played aggressive cricket to ensure a favourable result despite losing 2 days due to rain
• Bangladesh were reeling at 26 for 2, trailing India by 26 runs at Stumps on Monday

50 in 18 deliveries. 100 in 61. 150 in 110. 200 in 146. 250 in 181. India broke world records as many as four times in a span of two hours as they played Test cricket in Twenty20 mode in a bid to force a favourable result in the curtailed Kanpur Test. After bowling out Bangladesh for 233 in the second session, India batted at a rapid pace, getting to the fastest team 50, 100, 150 and 200 in Test cricket to give themselves a chance to win the Test on Tuesday.

A favourable result for either of the two teams looked improbable after two full days of the Test match at Green Park, Kanpur was washed out due to a wet outfield. Persistent rain in the city robbed what could have been a highly entertaining weekend, leaving thousands of fans disappointed. Only 35 overs of play was possible across the first three days and when Bangladesh resumed at 107 for 3 on Monday morning, it looked like they would escape with a draw.

India vs Bangladesh, Kanpur Test Day 4 Highlights

However, India batted with a refreshingly belligerent attitude in Test cricket. Gone are those days when Indian batters would think about personal milestones and records when faced with such a situation. India played selfless cricket, which has been a hallmark of this team under Rohit Sharma ever since the ODI World Cup in 2023.

India battled at a rate of 8.22 runs per over -- the most by a team in the history of Test cricket, bettering Australia's 7.53 in a Test match in Sydney against Pakistan in 2017. Even former England cricketers, who are proud of England's Bazball approach, were in awe as India batted with more aggression and more purpose.

Towards the end of the day's play, R Ashwin weaved magic with the new ball to brighten the chances of India winning the 2nd Test and completing a 2-0 whitewash.

All the Indian batters, including tail-ender Akash Deep, looked to swing from the word go. Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal walked out to bat and approached the innings like they were chasing 200 on a flat deck in an Indian Premier League game.

Rishabh Pant was the only man who missed out on the party and did not score at a strike rate over 100 in India's top six. He was promoted to bat ahead of Virat Kohli at No. 4, but the wicketkeeper-batter suffered a rare failure, departing for 9 off 11 balls while trying to hit one into the stands against veteran Shakib Al Hasan.

RAPID START FROM ROHIT-YASHASVI

Yashasvi made the team's intentions clear when he hit Hasan Mahmud for three boundaries in the first over. Rohit Sharma went one step further -- he hit new-ball partner Khaled Ahmed for two huge sixes in the first two deliveries of his innings.

Rohit stepped down the track to hit the first delivery he faced into the stands, reminding fans of his ruthless self from India's victorious T20 World Cup campaign. Rohit swung at everything and even deposited one on the roof in the third over of the contest. It looked like Rohit was in the mood to set some beyond-believable records, but his stay in the middle ended after a rare show of emotions and lapse in concentration.

Rohit punched the air in anger after he was wrongly adjudged LBW in the fourth over. Even after the decision was overturned after his review, Rohit was seemingly miffed with the time wasted for the DRS process. In the very next delivery, Rohit missed a delivery that turned sharply from Mehidy Hasan Miraz as Bangladesh's decision to introduce spin as early as the fourth over, worked in their favour.

GILL, KOHLI, RAHUL: THE CARNAGE CONTINUED

There was no respite, however, for Bangladesh. Yashasvi Jaiswal continued from where Rohit Sharma left, pounding the opposition bowlers and getting to his fifty in just 31 deliveries -- the third fastest Test fifty by an Indian after Rishabh Pant (28) and Kapil Dev (30).

Shubman Gill gave Yashasvi good company, hitting a six and four boundaries in his 36-ball 39. The two young batters added 72 runs for the second wicket, taking India past the 100-run mark in record time.

India lost three quick wickets, going from 127 for 1 to 159 for 4, but they did not ditch the aggressive approach. Virat Kohli and KL Rahul joined hands and kept the charge going. Kohli batted like he was wearing the red of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, hitting a six and four boundaries for his 35-ball 47.

On the other hand, KL Rahul proved his critics wrong, hitting 68 in just 43 deliveries. He hit two sixes and seven boundaries in an entertaining knock. Rahul got the biggest applause from the dressing room as the team management, headed by Gautam Gambhir, applauded the senior batter's useful contribution.

To add to Bangladesh's woes, R Ashwin worked his magic with the new ball towards the end of the extended final session, knocking off two wickets. He got the wickets of opener Zakir Hasan and nightwatchman Hasan Mahmud to leave Bangladesh reeling at 26 for 2.