Kolkata: An unproven pink ball couldn’t reduce the dazzling chasm between the two teams, as India swept Bangladesh with one inning and 46 races in its first day and night race to record a twelfth consecutive victory in the local series.
With Bangladesh resuming its second inning to 152 for six on day three and losing to India for 89 races, it was simply a matter of time before the home team completed the paperwork.
The SG pink ball, which had not been tested in a competitive game before the big game, expectedly assisted India’s lethal pace attack which took all the wickets on offer. An evidence of their menacing form was the amount of concussion subs Bangladesh had to use after the batsmen received heavy blows.
While Ishant Sharma took a five-wicket haul in the first innings, Umesh Yadav did the same in the second.
The Virat Kohli-led side eventually completed the job for in less than 50 minutes for their four straight innings victory, becoming the first team do so. Barring Mushfiqur Rahim (74), Bangladesh batsmen were once again found wanting against high quality pace bowling, folding up for 195 in 41.1 overs. They were bowled out for 130 on day one.
Under Virat Kohli, it was India’s 7th successive Test victory since winning the Test against West Indies in Antigua this August. It was only under MS Dhoni’s leadership in 2013 (February-November) that India last had a 6-Test winning streak (four vs Australia and two vs West Indies).
