Skipper Virat’s fourth double ton in fourth consecutive series and ’keeper Saha’s 106 not out help hosts declare on 687-6; Bangladesh 41-1 at stumps
Wriddhiman Saha congratulates India captain Virat Kohli on reaching his double century on Day Two of the one-off Test against Bangladesh at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Uppal, Hyderabad yesterday. Pic/AFP
Hyderabad: It's difficult to emulate players of the calibre of Sir Don Bradman and Rahul Dravid, but India captain Virat Kohli has done so in style when, moments after lunch, yesterday he lofted Bangladesh left-arm spinner Taijul Islam over extra cover for four to become the first batsman to score four double centuries in as many successive Test series. Kohli's previous three successive double tons came against the West Indies, New Zealand and England. Armed with Kohli's 204 and wicketkeeper-batsman Wriddhiman Saha's unbeaten 106, India declared their first innings on 687 for 6 on Day Two of the one-off Test at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium yesterday. At stumps, the visitors were 41 for one, having lost opener Soumya Sarkar (15).
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Kohli hit 24 boundaries during his 246-ball stay at the crease. Soon after reaching his double ton, he failed to execute a cut shot off left-arm spinner Taijul Islam, got hit on the pad and was adjudged leg-before wicket by umpire Marais Erasmus. TV replays later showed that had Kohli opted for a review, he may have been given not out as the ball had struck him marginally outside the line of off stump. Earlier in the day, while on 180, Kohli was adjudged leg-before to off-spinner Mehedi Hasan, but a review taken by him ensured the umpire's decision was reversed.
Kohli was ably assisted by Saha, who was making his comeback to the squad after injury. The wicketkeeper got a reprieve on four, when Bangladesh skipper and stumper Mushfiqur Rahim missed a stumping opportunity with the Indian well out of his crease against Islam. Saha needed no second chance, and went on to register his second Test ton (106) with seven hits to the fence and two over the ropes.
“Whenever I have batted with Virat, he has always backed me, not only me but he backs all of us. He always encourages us to play our natural shots. He does not think about milestones,” said Saha, who put on a 118-run seventh-wicket unbeaten stand with Ravindra Jadeja (60 not out, 4x4, 2x6)
Earlier, fit-again Mumbai batsman Ajinkya Rahane, underlined his importance with a well compiled 82 (11x4).
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