The cricketing world was treated to an exhilarating display of batting prowess as India faced Bangladesh in the second Test match at Kanpur. On Day 4 of the match, the Indian cricket team not only secured a commanding position but also shattered multiple records, leaving fans and analysts in awe. From the fastest team fifty to the quickest 200 in Test history, India’s batting was nothing short of spectacular, showcasing a fearless brand of cricket reminiscent of the ‘BazBall’ era.
A Historic Batting Display
India's innings began with explosive intent. Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma set the tone from the very first ball. Jaiswal's blistering knock of 72 runs off just 51 balls included an astonishing 12 fours and 2 sixes. His aggressive approach was complemented perfectly by Rohit Sharma, who added 68 runs from 43 deliveries, featuring 7 fours and 2 sixes. Together, they formed a formidable opening partnership, accumulating runs at a breathtaking pace.
Record-Breaking Moments
The records began to tumble as India continued their onslaught against the Bangladesh bowlers. The opening pair made history by breaking the world record for the fastest team fifty in Test cricket, achieving the milestone in a mere 18 balls. This record was previously held by England, who reached their fifty in 26 balls against the West Indies earlier this year. The Indian openers' audacity was evident as Jaiswal struck three consecutive boundaries off Hasan Mahmud in the first over, setting a tone that would carry throughout the innings.
But the onslaught didn't stop there. The 55-run partnership between Jaiswal and Rohit also became the new world record for the highest scoring rate in a Test partnership of at least 50 runs, with a staggering run rate of 14.34 runs per over. This shattered the previous record held by England's Ben Duckett and Ben Stokes, who managed 87 runs in 44 balls at a rate of 11.86 runs per over.
India's batting display was relentless, and they also set a new record for the fastest team 100, reaching the milestone in just 10.2 overs, eclipsing their previous record of 12.2 overs against the West Indies last year. As if that weren’t enough, they reached the fastest 200 in Test cricket history, completing this remarkable feat in just 24.2 overs, surpassing the previous record held by Australia, who had accomplished the same in 29.1 overs against Pakistan in 2017.
Bangladesh’s Resilience
While India was busy rewriting the record books, Bangladesh fought valiantly. Mominul Haque's unbeaten century (107*) was a silver lining in an otherwise challenging innings for the visitors. His resilience against the Indian bowling attack was commendable and highlighted his ability to anchor the innings amidst the chaos.
Bangladesh was eventually bowled out for 233 runs, trailing by 285 runs. However, the day firmly belonged to India as they declared at 285 for 8, marking a dominant position going into the final day of the Test match.
