Relentless India conjure a famous win in Kanpur

In what will be remembered as one of the freak Test matches of all time, India sealed a comfortable seven-wicket win over Bangladesh on the fifth day after Lunch in Kanpur. Through this result, the hosts sealed the two-match Test series 2-0, registering their 18th successive series win at home.

With a paltry target of 95 to chase, India's approach was no different from what they did in the first innings. Rohit Sharma struck a boundary to signal the charge but the Indian captain fell soon to Mehidy Hasan as Bangladesh started with spin from both ends.

Yashasvi Jaiswal (51) smashed his second fifty of the game and along with Virat Kohli (29) did the bulk of the scoring although the former fell at the cusp of victory. The odd ball did keep low but with such a low target to defend and India's batters on the charge, Bangladesh's bowlers couldn't do much. While the win came in the second session on the final day, it's what India did in the previous four sessions that defined the game in its totality.

The first three days of the Kanpur Test seemed like a slow-burning thriller sans the twist with inclement weather and an underwhelming outfield playing spoilsport. The 35 overs bowled on the opening day was the only cricketing action witnessed until play finally resumed on the fourth day. Bangladesh were placed at 107/3 on a surface that appeared tough to predict. The black soil meant low bounce but the overhead conditions and dampness also allowed for extravagant movement for the pacers. Spin, as always, was inevitable too.

It was perhaps why Rohit opted to bowl at the toss but his bowlers weren't collectively on top during the 35 overs of the first day. Jasprit Bumrah had a very rare off-day while Mohammed Siraj was only good in patches. It was Akash Deep's twin strikes that helped to vindicate Rohit's decision at the toss even as Ravichandran Ashwin got the ball to talk a fair bit. But bad light on day one followed by rain and wet outfield did so much damage that a draw looked like the best probability.

Until India decided to hit top gear, thereby forcing Bangladesh into self-destruction.

The fourth morning started like any other regular Test match day and Mominul Haque seemed at ease en route to his 13th Test ton. The left-hander batted with poise and seemed untroubled at the crease. However, he lacked support at the other end. Veteran Mushfiqur Rahim's dismissal - he offered no stroke to a sharp Jasprit Bumrah nipbacker - set the tone for India's dominance. India's pace spearhead was back at his best while the other Indian bowlers also chipped in. It meant that Mominul was left stranded in the end, running out of partners.

Bangladesh's collapse from 224-6 to 233 all out was just the tonic India needed as the hosts were keen on taking the match forward in a bid to maximise WTC points from the game. If India's bowlers produced a laudable display on the fourth morning, their batters went up a notch in the afternoon session. Rohit's men played an extraordinary brand of T20 cricket in a Test match, on a surface where fluent strokeplay wasn't straightforward with the low bounce. The captain set the tone with a cameo but it was Jaiswal's 51-ball 72 that led India's charge.

As Mehidy would say later at the press conference after the fourth day, it was an onslaught that shook Bangladesh's bowling attack. Shubman Gill (39) and Virat Kohli (47) all batted with the same ultra-aggressive approach while KL Rahul (68) shepherded the assault towards the end with his dynamic strokeplay. To put it statistically, India faced 238 deliveries lesser than Bangladesh and yet ended with a lead of 52. The hosts' scoring rate of 8.22 was a landslide record for the best innings run rate for any team with a 200-plus score in Tests. It was just one of plenty of records shattered as India also smashed fastest 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 in the format.

Having declared at the fall of the ninth wicket, India were eager to grasp at least a wicket before stumps. They ended up getting two in the end, both to Ravichandran Ashwin. The off-spinner set up opener Zakir Hasan wonderfully with a mix of sliders and off-breaks to get him LBW. Shortly thereafter, nightwatchman Hasan Mahmud played an outrageous slog to get bowled, giving India a fitting end to the day's play. While Mahmud's atrocious stroke was shocking, the more established batters were about to outdo him the next day.

Starting the day with a slender deficit of 26, Bangladesh's first priority would have been to get into the lead without losing a wicket. That, unfortunately, didn't go to plan as first innings centurion Mominul Haque fell to a clever little plan from Rohit Sharma and co. Knowing Mominul's tendency to sweep, there was a leg slip in place, which meant that he couldn't look for the paddle. Then, in an attempt to play the hard sweep, he got it right off the face of the bat, only for KL Rahul to take a sharp catch at leg slip off Ashwin.

Shadman batted with positive intent and unfurled a plethora of boundaries through crisp timing. He was sound in his defence, left the ball well and didn't spare any loose deliveries that were on offer. Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto also looked comfortable as the pair stitched half-century stand to keep the visitors afloat under crisis. Ravindra Jadeja, unused till then, was brought into the attack and he struck in his very first over, courtesy a horror stroke from Shanto. The Bangladesh skipper went for a risky reverse sweep and the execution of the shot made it worse as he got castled around his legs. If Mahmud's shot was outrageous as a tailender, this from a specialist batter and captain was unforgivable.

It was the breakthrough that opened the floodgates as Jadeja then had Litton Das nicking behind to a ripper while Shakib Al Hasan offered a tame return catch. Shadman then fell just after his fifty to a loose shot against the relentless Akash Deep. From 91/3, Bangladesh were now on the ropes at 94/7 with India breathing fire. Bumrah then made short work of the tail, dispatching Mehidy Hasan and Taijul Islam in succession. Rahim managed to delay the inevitable for a while by farming the strike with last man Khaled Ahmed. The former eventually fell to a signature Bumrah at the stroke of the extended lunch break.

Chasing a target of 95, it was only a matter of when as far as India's win was concerned. Jaiswal ensured that it happened quickly enough to seal a famous win for India. Strength of the opposition and home conditions could tend to undermine the significance of the victory but the intent India showed to force a win under such conditions makes it a memorable win.

Brief scores: Bangladesh 233 and 146 (Shadman Islam 50, Mushfiqur Rahim 37; Jasprit Bumrah 3-17, Ravindra Jadeja 3-34) lost to India 285/9 decl. and 98/3 (Yashasvi Jaiswal 51; Mehidy Hasan 2-44) by seven wickets.