Unadkat ends decade-long Test exodus as India brush aside Bangladesh

By Sports Desk December 22, 2022

Jaydev Unadkat took two wickets in his first Test for over a decade as India made a strong start to restrict Bangladesh to 227 all out on day one in Mirpur.

In the final game of the two-match red-ball series, the tourists put themselves on course for a clean sweep with an emphatic performance with the ball, closing on 19 without loss in reply.

Four-wicket hauls for Umesh Yadav (4-25) and Ravichandran Ashwin (4-71) headlined a dominant bowling display from India at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

But the warmest reception was saved for Unadkat, in just his second Test appearance, and first since his debut in 2010 as a teenager.

The 31-year-old struck either side of lunch to dismiss Zakir Hasan (15) and Mushfiqur Rahim (26) to take his first Test wickets and was embraced by his team-mates.

Bangladesh's resistance came almost single-handedly through Mominul Haque, who carved out a patient 84 from 157 deliveries to keep the hosts ticking over.

But his dismissal by Ashwin as the penultimate wicket of the first innings effectively signalled the end of his side's modest resistance and put India in the driving seat. 

KL Rahul escaped an LBW call to finish on three not out, with opening partner Shubman Gill still alongside him on 14.

Unadkat joins record books

It was at Centurion in December 2010 that the bowler made his debut against South Africa, suffering a bruising outing as the Proteas won by an innings and 25 runs.

In finally returning to the fold, he sits 11th on the list of players with the longest gap between Test appearances – well off the record of 22 years and 222 days held by John Traicos.

Mominul spares Bangladesh blushes

After a highly successful white-ball series, these two Tests have so far been a bumpy return to earth for the hosts, and it could have been worse were it not for their top-order saviour.

Arriving at the crease with his team 39-1, Mominul survived all but final two batsmen Taijul Islam and Khaled Ahmed, to ensure Bangladesh scraped past the 200 mark.

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