2nd Test, India vs Bangladesh Day 3 preview: Ishant Sharma in line for another five-four

Bangladesh finally showed some fight in the series on the second day of the second Test, but such is the power of India, they are still just four wickets away from victory. Bangladesh, led by Mushfiqur Rahim, ended the day on 152/6, still trailing by 89.

It’s hard to see how Bangladesh will survive here. There’s too much time left in the Test, and apart from Mushfiqur Rahim, there’s few other batsmen who have shown the gumption to fight out the India pacers.

Bowling was tough on the second day – there was dew, there was little movement off the pitch, and edges were flying over boundaries. However, India still had Bangladesh reduced to 13/4, with Ishant Sharma doing most of the damage.

Virat Kohli scored his 27th Test century, putting on partnerships with Ajinkya Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja, and Bangladesh will be crying out for their batsmen to provide similar support to Rahim on the third day.

However, with just four wickets left, and the ball expected to do a fair bit, the Indian pacers are once again expected to subject the Bangladesh lower order to short-pitched bowling. And if the first innings is anything to go by, they won’t cope too well with it.

Key players

Ishant Sharma (India): If Mohammed Shami was the star in the first Test, it’s Ishant in the second. He has been simply stellar so far, and is primed to take another five-for in the match come Sunday. Bangladesh have no prayer.

Mushfiqur Rahim (Bangladesh): Bangladesh need to the take the match on an hour-by-hour basis tomorrow. If they have any hope of, at the very least, making India bat again, it rests on Rahim. His wicket is simply crucial.

Brief scores  

Bangladesh 106 & 152/6 (Mushfiqur Rahim 59*, Mahmudullah 39; Ishant Sharma 4/39) trail India 347/9 declared (Virat Kohli 136; Cheteshwar Pujara 55) by 89 runs.

Prediction

India to seal victory within the first session.