Mushfiqur Rahim stands tall: It has nothing to do with his diminutive body frame. This is about his characteristic 127-run knock against the strength of India’s bowling unit. He was involved in a couple of mix-ups between the wickets. He survived Ishant Sharma’s bouncers. He attacked Ravichandran Ashwin. He took on Umesh Yadav’s reverse-swing. All this after keeping wickets for 166 overs in the first innings.
It was his fifth hundred, second against India and fourth overseas.
Ashwin became the fastest to scalp 250 wickets, taking only 45 Tests to attain this feat. Earlier, the record-holder was Australia’s Dennis Lillee, who had taken 3 more Tests than the Indian off-spinner.
Gone are the days when the captains enforced follow-on. Gone are the days when the matches ended earlier than expected. Kohli, for that matter, goes for the kill. Of late, though, we saw him denying the follow-on concept. When Bangladesh were wound up for 388, they needed another 100 runs to avoid follow-on. Kohli instead decided to bat again. Come to think of it, the kids from this era would not comprehend the notion of follow-on.
Pujara hits a six: This may not amuse many, but it certainly made Kohli punch his bat in jubilance (or surprise, but he certainly flaunted a wide smile). There was a reason, though, for seldom do we see the traditionalist Cheteshwar Pujara clear the ropes. Pujara eased a short delivery over deep fine-leg, registering his seventh six in 74 innings — still 2 more sixes than former India batsman VVS Laxman.