Fearless India conquer Bangladesh, wet weather in Kanpur Test heist, 2-0 sweep

India vs Bangladesh: Fearless India stormed to a 2-0 series sweep over Bangladesh, defying wet weather and time constraints in the Kanpur Test. After two rain-hit days, India unleashed a blistering batting display on Day 4 and then a bowling masterclass on Day 5 to secure a 7-wicket win on Tuesday.

In Short

• India defeat Bangladesh to extend Test series-winning streak at home
• Rohit Sharma's men forced a result despite two days of rain washout
• The Kanpur win solidified India's top spot in World Test Championship standings

Young run-machine Yashasvi Jaiswal hit another fifty while comeback man Rishabh Pant scored the winning runs on a sunny afternoon in Kanpur as fearless India defied both wet weather and time constraints to hand Bangladesh a series whitewash after winning the second Test. The Gautam Gambhir era began with a 2–0 series win as India knocked off the 95-run target in the post-lunch session to secure a 7-wicket win over the visitors.

Bangladesh entered the series riding high from a historic 2-0 win in Pakistan, but they now return home deflated and demoralized. The carnage that unfolded on the field was beyond their expectations. With this weather-defying win, Rohit Sharma's India solidified their pole position in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings with an eye on a third successive Test Championship final.

KANPUR TEST, DAY 5: HIGHLIGHTS

Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, the team exploited the unpredictable nature of Test cricket, overcoming not just the challenges posed by a lacklustre Bangladesh but also the elements themselves. The hosts completed their win in just six sessions after two full days were washed out due to a wet outfield at Green Park.

Most consecutive Test series wins at home:

18* - India (2013 - 2024)
10 - Australia (1994 - 2000)
10 - Australia (2004 - 2008)
8 - West Indies (1976 - 1986)
8 - New Zealand (2017 - 2020)

With a modest 95-run target, India again came out all guns blazing as Bangladesh didn't use any pace in search of wickets. Rohit missed a big swing to the leg side in the first over and when he middled a sweep, he found long leg in Mehidy's second over. Shubman Gill was trapped lbw for 6 by Mehidy to a delivery similar to the one that kept low and dismissed Rohit on Monday. Otherwise India cruised in their chase thanks to Jaiswal's third half-century of the series. He muscled his back-foot punches and sweeps and came down the track to smash a few boundaries, including a six, down the ground. His brisk partnership of 58 with Virat Kohli nearly saw India through except that Jaiswal miscued a swing to the off side with only three runs required.

Not to worry though—Pant stepped up, as always, to finish things off in style, slapping a boundary to seal the deal in a fitting style. Now, with this win in the bag, India heads into their next big challenge—a tough tour of Australia later this year—with momentum and swagger.

INDIA BREATH LIFE INTO KANPUR TEST

It was on Day 4 when India infused a much-needed adrenaline rush into a rain-affected contest against Bangladesh, unleashing a T20-style batting assault to gain a commanding 52-run first-innings lead. After two gloomy days with eight sessions lost, the sun finally broke through over Kanpur, setting the stage for some exhilarating on-field action.

India had only six sessions left to force a result, and the hosts came out all guns blazing. Despite a flat pitch offering little help to the bowlers, India managed to bowl Bangladesh out for 233 in their first innings, thanks largely to Mominul Haque’s gritty unbeaten 107. The game seemed to be drifting towards a draw, but India had other plans.

In response, India went on a record-breaking rampage. Yashasvi Jaiswal set the tone with a quick-fire 72 off 51 balls, smashing boundaries at will. Skipper Rohit Sharma followed with a 23 off just 11 balls, which included two massive sixes—one landing on the stadium roof. The scoreboard was ticking at a blistering pace, and India shattered records for the fastest team: 50 (18 balls), 100 (74 balls), and 200 (24.2 overs) in Test cricket.

India declared their second innings at 285/9, leaving Bangladesh with a mountain to climb. At stumps, Bangladesh were already struggling at 26/2, with Ravichandran Ashwin picking up two quick wickets. The visitors still trail India by 26 runs and face an uphill battle on the final day.

While Jaiswal’s fireworks stole the show, India’s aggressive intent was backed by solid performances from Shubhman Gill (39), Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul, who added a swift 87-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Kohli, in the process, became only the fourth player to surpass 27,000 international runs across formats, joining the elite company of legends.

TUESDAY MORNING MASTERCLASS

Day 5's mourning session, stretching nearly three hours, was a masterclass in bowling artistry and a lesson in shot selection. What started as a tango between caution and aggression quickly turned into Bangladesh’s tragic undoing. Mominul Haque, their first-innings centurion, was tempted into a delicate sweep, only to fall into Rohit Sharma’s meticulously laid trap. Ashwin struck, and Bangladesh reeled.

The stage was set for an enthralling day of cricket. Bangladesh, with its fragile lead, walked out with a glimmer of hope. Shadman Islam and Najmul Hossain Shanto seemed to bring a touch of rebellion, with strokes as smooth as brushstrokes on a canvas. Fifty runs came in quick succession. But lurking on the horizon was a storm—one Ravindra Jadeja would soon summon.

Shadman Islam and Shanto had the crowd thinking this could get competitive, putting on a brisk 50+ partnership. Then, Shanto’s ill-fated reverse sweep against Ravindra Jadeja turned the match on its head. Jadeja didn’t just open the door—he flung it wide open. Bangladesh went from 91/3 to 94/7 in what felt like the blink of an eye.

Jadeja bagged three wickets, including a ripper that sent Litton Das packing. Akash Deep joined the party, snatching Shadman just after his gritty half-century. And then came the tail-ender massacre—cue Jasprit Bumrah, who cleaned up the stragglers with precision. It wasn’t long before even Mushfiqur Rahim’s valiant 37 ended with his middle stump flying, courtesy of yet another ill-advised shot. Bangladesh collapsed like a house of cards in an extended session that felt like it would never end—except, you know, for the Bangladesh batters.

Just as Bangladesh's symphony reached a promising crescendo, Shanto opted for a reverse sweep—audacious, ambitious, and ultimately, disastrous. The ball spun, Shanto missed, and with that, the melody turned into a cacophony. Jadeja’s spinning web ensnared not just Shanto, but his comrades too. Wickets fell like autumn leaves in a procession that was all too familiar. From 91/3, the visitors tumbled to 94/7, their fight unraveling into chaos.

India, with their discipline, did not wait for fortune—they engineered it. Bumrah, with precision akin to a sculptor's chisel, removed the last vestiges of Bangladesh’s resistance. Mushfiqur Rahim, trying to farm the strike, was left undone by an off-cutter that uprooted his middle stump. Rahim's audacious drive on the brink of lunch was the final act in Bangladesh’s tragic tale.

The numbers tell the story—Bangladesh collapsed to 146, leaving India a target of just 95 runs to sweep the series. Jasprit Bumrah (3-17) and Ravindra Jadeja (3-50) spearheaded India's destruction, with Shadman Islam’s 50 and Rahim’s 37 the only notes of defiance in a tune that was quickly drowned out by India’s relentless rhythm.

For India, this Test win was crucial in their bid to consolidate their top spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) table. With tougher series ahead, including the Australia tour, the hosts are looking to bag as many wins as possible to build a buffer before facing stiffer competition.