India crushes Bangladesh by 188 runs in 1st test, leads the two-match series by 1-0

Digital Desk: India thrashed Bangladesh by 188 runs after taking out the final four wickets with Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Mohammed Siraj on day five at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium on Sunday.

With the victory, KL Rahul earned his maiden victory as a Test captain and India now leads the two-match series 1-0. Despite their best efforts, Bangladesh was eventually bowled out for 324 in 113.2 overs, despite its skipper Shakib Al Hasan's 84 helping to prolong the inevitable.

For India, left-arm spinner Axar claimed four wickets in the fourth innings, followed by Kuldeep with three, Umesh Yadav with two, Mohammed Siraj with one, and Ravichandran Ashwin with one. The victory increases India's chances of making it to a second straight World Test Championship final by moving them beyond Sri Lanka to third place in the standings with 55.77 percent.

Resuming at 272, Mehidy Hasan Miraz first hit Mohammed Siraj for four with a brilliant cover drive, while Shakib slog-swept Axar for six over a deep square leg. Mehidy attempted to drive Siraj with a somewhat wide ball, but he hit the ball straight to the backward point.

Shakib boldly scored his fifty, moving down the field and lofting the ball over long-on for six off Axar. Shakib twice pushed Siraj over long-on and fine leg for two fours and a six when Siraj attempted to bounce him out.

Shakib swiped hard against Kuldeep through mid-wicket after waltzing down the field to hit Axar over cow corner for six. However, India finally put an end to Shakib's onslaught at 84 when Kuldeep managed to get one past the attempted sweep and hit top of the middle stump.

Before Axar removed Taijul Islam's off stump to give India a decisive victory, Kuldeep claimed another victim when Ebadot Hossain flicked a leg-break straight to forward short leg.

Cheteshwar Pujara, Shreyas Iyer, and Ashwin all scored fifty runs for India in the 188-run victory. Kuldeep also scored forty runs, bringing the first innings total from 48/3 to 404.

In the first innings, Siraj quickly eliminated Bangladesh's top order while Kuldeep claimed five wickets to dismiss the opposition for 150. India decided not to follow on and instead batted again with a large 254-run lead. Pujara and Shubman Gill each scored a century to set Bangladesh a target of 513.

Bangladesh's openers put on a 124-run partnership as they chased a massive total, with rookie Zakir Hasan scoring his first Test century. But after lunch on day four, India's bowlers, who had to work extremely hard on a slow-turning pitch with some turn and bounce, rallied to secure the victory.

The Sher-E-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka, will now host the second and final Test of the series between Bangladesh and India from December 22–26.

Concise scores: India defeated Bangladesh by 188 runs with a total of 404 in 133.5 overs and 258/2 declared in 61.4 overs (Zakir Hasan scored 100 and Shakib Al Hasan had 84; Axar Patel had 4/77 and Kuldeep Yadav had 3/73).