IND VS BAN TESTS

KL Rahul collects the series-win trophy and the victorious Indian team poses for a team photo as well. That is it then from this game and from India's tour of Bangladesh as well. The hosts won the ODI series 2-1 and it is the visitors who have swept away the Test series 2-0 and kept their 2nd place in the World Test Championship Points table. Both teams are done for the year 2022 and India will now welcome Sri Lanka for a T20I and ODI series that will start on January 3, 2023. As for Bangladesh, they have a bit of a break before they return to international action. Hope you enjoyed our coverage and wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in advance. Until next time, take care and goodbye!

The Indian captain, KL Rahul says that when you play so much cricket together it is about trusting the guys in the middle. Adds that there is always a belief that someone will put their hand up and get the job done for the team. Shares that it is human nature to be nervous in situations like these. Feels that Ravichandran Ashwin and Shreyas Iyer showed a lot of composure on a tough wicket and played it with ease to get India the victory. Shares that they knew it was going to be difficult and they would need to grind on this wicket and work hard for runs. Feels that new ball does a lot more and it is about who plays the new ball well. Also says that it is about cashing in ocne the ball gets old. Says that will learn from this experience and get better as individuals. Feels that the depth in the fast bowling department has been good over the last 6-7 years and it showed in this Test with Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav and Jaydev Unadkat delivering for the side. Ends by saying that Ashwin and Axar Patel too chipped in to bundle Bangladesh out.

Cheteshwar Pujara is the PLAYER OF THE SERIES for his sensational batting in both innings of the first Test match. He says that it was a very competitive series. Shares that he had put in a lot of hard work by working on his game and playing first-class games. Adds that that is important to be in touch by playing first-class games. Feels that is important to win each and every Test considering the World Test Championship. Also says that is important to be on top of the game. Ends by saying that ups and downs are a part of a cricketer's journey and it is all about being mentally strong and bouncing back.

Ravichandran Ashwin is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his brilliant contribution with both bat and the ball. Ashwin says that the game was on the line and there wasn't much batting left so is happy to have done the job. Adds that Bangladesh played well and put them under pressure but applauds Shreyas Iyer for the way he played and they got over the line. Mentions that they would have liked to play more shots but the bowling was good and they needed to trust their defense a bit more as well. Adds that the pitch was good, it was a bit slow but the ball got softer after 30 or so overs and the same ball could have been played off the front foot as well as the back foot. Ends by saying that barring the first innings in Chattogram, Bangladesh played really well and it was a well-contested series.

Shakib Al Hasan, the skipper of Bangladesh, says that everyone contributed in this game. Adds that at Mirpur they always have a chance. Feels that they put on a good show and it was what the crowd wanted with both sides playing very good Test cricket. Credits Shreyas Iyer and Ravichandran Ashwin with the way they batted and feels that they absorbed pressure well. Shares that it is his job to contribute with both bat and ball and it was unfortunate that he could not bowl in the first Test. Reckons that they needed one more wicket to get into the tail of India. Shares that he is happy with the way they fought. Ends by saying that they can only improve from hereon.

The presentation ceremony...

Earlier in the game, Shakib Al Hasan won the toss and opted to bat first on a track that had loads of grass on it but it wasn't live grass. The Bangladeshi batters all got off to starts in the first innings but no one apart from Mominul Haque could convert those starts. For India, Umesh Yadav and Ravichandran Ashwin starred with the ball as both of them picked up four wickets each. The Indian top-order faltered and it was a big 150-plus stand between Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant that gave India a sizeable first-innings lead. Shakib Al Hasan and Taijul Islam also got four wickets each. The hosts were in a lot of trouble in their second innings but a fighting half-century from Zakir Hasan and a couple of quickfire knocks from Litton Das and Nurul Hasan gave them a final lead of 144 runs. The target wasn't a big one but it was a tricky wicket and the hosts gave it their all but the experience of Ravichandran Ashwin shone through as he took India to victory.

'The one that got away' - this is what Bangladesh will feel about this game. They were under the caush throughout the first couple of days but came roaring back on Day 3 with some scintillating batting and then magical bowling as well. Their spinners had their tail up coming into Day 4 and neither Shakib Al Hasan nor Mehidy Hasan disappoint. Mehidy went on to pick up a famous five-for but once Iyer and Ashwin started to consolidate, the Bangladeshi spinners lost their line and lengths. With not many runs to play with, too many boundary balls were bowled and India didn't let them off the hook. In the end, Bangladesh had no answer to the depth in India's batting and their batters just didn't put up enough runs on the board for them to get the win.

It was a fairly even contest coming into Day 4 but Bangladesh did have the upper hand and they become the favorites to win the game when Mehidy Hasan and Shakib Al Hasan picked up three quick wickets early in the day. India had their backs against the wall but have managed to turn misery into joy. Jaydev Unadkat was the first to fall on Day 4 and then Axar Patel and Rishabh Pant both fell in quick succession. With still 71 needed to win and the Bangladeshi spinners on top of proceedings, Shreyas Iyer and Ravichandran Ashwin stitched together an unbeaten partnership with the latter going on to end things with a flurry of boundaries toward the end. A remarkable win for the visitors and they will return home jubilant.

What a game! What a ripper of a contest we have witnessed in Mirpur! It is a Christmas Miracle as India have recovered from being 74 for 7 down to going on to win the game. Shreyas Iyer and Ravichandran Ashwin, take a bow. But spare a thought for Bangladesh and especially Mehidy Hasan who gave it his all and even picked up a five-wicket haul only to end up on the losing side. India seal the series 2-0 and keep their unbeaten record against Bangladesh is Test matches intact.

FOUR! Ravichandran Ashwin finishes things off for India! Short and on middle by Mehidy Hasan, Ravichandran Ashwin picks the length early and pulls this one right between mid-wicket and mid on. Gets enough bat on it and it goes for a boundary. India win by 3 wickets and win the series 2-0!

FOUR! Tossed up, on a length on off by Mehidy Hasan, Ravichandran Ashwin gets to the pitch of the ball and lofts this one over mid off and collects a boundary. Just 4 needed now for India.

On a length on middle, Ravichandran Ashwin defends this one on the leg side.

Fuller on off, Ravichandran Ashwin gets forward and defends this one down the wicket.

On a length around off, Ravichandran Ashwin defends this one from the front foot but gets a thick outside edge that flies past first slip. Litton Das performs the chase as the batters run two in the process.

SIX! Ravichandran Ashwin greets Mehidy Hasan with a maximum! Mehidy Hasan misses his length and bowls this one short and on middle, the ball does not bounce as expected but Ravichandran Ashwin still goes through with the pull. Clears the deep mid-wicket fence and collects a maximum.

Short and on leg, Ravichandran Ashwin goes back and whips this one uppishly towards deep mid-wicket for a single. India are now 16 runs away.