Another innings defeat looms large for insipid Bangladesh

Another day and another insipid performance from Bangladesh meant that India took complete control of the first Test at Indore within just two days. 

The Men in Blue, led by opener Mayank Agarwal's double century took a 1st innings lead of 343 runs as they scored 493-6. 

Rahi the only ray of hope

The only positive for the Tigers will be the bowling of Abu Jayed Rahi, who took four top-order wickets.

That included the big wickets of Rohit Sharma on day one and India skipper Virat Kohli for a duck on day two. 

Perhaps a bowling partner that could aid Rahi would help improve Bangladesh's Test bowling woes, especially away from home. 

The day started off with a wicket for Bangladesh as Rahi had the wicket of Cheteshwar Pujara, who scored faster than usual 54 off 72 deliveries.

But the main credit of the wicket should go to fourth-slip fielder Saif Hassan, who pounced on a difficult catch.

Saif came in as a substitute with many expecting him to make his Test debut here, but Bangladesh went with the more conservative approach of picking the more experienced Imrul Kayes. 

The catch by Saif would have mounted more pressure on Imrul, as he failed with the bat, scoring just six, and later dropped an easy catch at first slip of Agarwal.

Bangladesh sniffed a chance of dismissing India for fewer runs when they had the wicket of Kohli with the score on 119.

Agarwal-Rahane dominate

However, that just brought Ajinkya Rahane to the crease, and he combined with Agarwal to take the team total past 300.

Agarwal reached his century, his third in three Tests as he and Rahane completely dominated the Bangladesh bowlers in the second session and didn't lose a single wicket.

The wicket finally did come in the session after tea as Rahi took the wicket of Rahane after he scored an enterprising 86.

Agarwal then found another able partner in Ravindra Jadeja as they batted in one-day mode to take the team total past 400 and Agarwal also brought up his second Test double century.

The signs looked ominous as the Bangladesh bowlers were battered all over the ground, but Agarwal was finally dismissed for playing one shot too many by Mehidy Hasan Miraz after scoring a mammoth 243 off 330 balls.

Fast bowler Ebadat Hossain then found another breakthrough by dismissing Wriddhiman Saha for 12. 

Jadeja ups the ante

That only brought Umesh Yadav to the crease and he plundered 25 runs off just ten balls in an innings that so far has three big sixes and one four. 

At the other end, Jadeja brought up his half-century and also his trademark sword spinning celebration. 

At stumps, he was on 60 off just 72 balls, as the home team maintained an innings run rate of 4.32 and took 97 runs off the last ten overs in the day. 

Bangladesh captain Mominul Haque pushed his bowlers hard as he made Ebadat, Rahi, Taijul Islam and Miraz bowl the bulk of the 90 overs and only had Mahmudullah bowl three overs.

Ebadat ended the day with figures of 115-1 off 31 overs while Miraz bowled 27 overs giving away 125 runs and taking just one wicket.

Off-spinner Taijul, one who many were expecting to be the leader of the attack was poor and went wicketless giving away 120 runs in his 28 overs in the process.  

Whether a declaration comes at the beginning of the new day remains to be seen but neither the Bangladesh bowlers or batsmen should be sleeping easy as three days remain in the Test match and massive innings defeat looms large.