Fastest fifty to fastest 100 to fastest 150 to fastest 200 and to fastest 250, all records were broken on Day 4 of the second Test against Bangladesh as Indian batters walked out with an intent to win despite losing more than two days to rain. Indian skipper Rohit Sharma came out all guns blazing with two sixes off the first two balls he faced to set the tone for other batters to follow and they obliged by scoring 285 runs from 34.4 overs. But it was obvious that there was a huge element of risk involved. India would have been bowled out for a much lower score in an attempt to go all out. After the seven-wicket win, Ravichandran Ashwin revealed that Rohit Sharma had a clear communication with the team as Bangladesh were bowled out for 233.
“When we bowled them out yesterday, it was little after lunch. Rohit was keen that we needed 80 overs to bowl at them. And the moment he came inside and gave that talk where we're going to go after it even if we get out under 230. It's not only him saying it, he went out there and hit his first ball for six. He set the tone that way and obviously follows on from there,” ‘Player of the series’ Ashwin told the broadcaster in the post-match presentation.
After Ashwin's 11-ball 23 cameo, most batters played with same approach. Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli contributed with 36-ball 39 and 35-ball 47 respectively. Yashasvi Jaiswal went on to score 51-ball 72 whereas KL Rahul scored 68 runs from 43 deliveries. Akash Deep too entertained the crowd and pushed the score with two sixes from just four balls.
Ashwin on bowling attack
Ashwin bagged 11 wickets in the series including a six-wicket haul in Chennai Test. He scored a century as well. The veteran spin all-rounder is happy to be part of a bowling attack lethal enough to bowl out the opposition for a low score.
“The kind of bowling attack I'm part of, incredibly proud of it. How Jassi bowls, how Siraj turns in, how Akash turned up, and don't have to mention much about Jaddu,” he added.
