The Indian cricket team under KL Rahul’s captaincy may have clean-swept the 2-match test series against Bangladesh but the victory in the second match was not a convincing one and it once again exposed the Indian batting which is considered as one of the strongest on the papers.
The second test match was played at Sher-E-Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, and India needed to score just 145 runs in its second innings for winning the match but Bangladeshi bowlers, especially Mehidy Hasan (5/63) bowled pretty well and made it really tough for Indian batters to score runs. There was a time when India lost 7 wickets at the score 0f 74 and the match was turning in favor of Bangladesh but the resilience shown by Shreyas Iyer and Ravichandran Ashwin was just amazing as they both produced a partnership of 71 runs and ensured that their team ended the match as the winner. Shreyas Iyer remained unbeaten at the score of 29 while R Ashwin scored 42 runs not out and Axar Patel also made a useful contribution of 34 runs in the tough times.
The online users were pretty happy with the manner in which Shreyas Iyer and R Ashwin batted and saved the Indian team from the embarrassment but there were some who also stated that the win in the second test match should not overshadow the mistakes committed by the team management in this test match. Many former cricketers were also left confused with the decision of dropping Kuldeep Yadav from the squad which played the second test match because he took total 8 wickets in the first test match, including a fifer and played an important role in India’s win by 188 runs. The stand-in skipper KL Rahul was also slammed mercilessly for his poor performance with the bat in the series and a number of netizens stated that KL Rahul and Rahul Dravid should thank Shreyas Iyer and R Ashwin for saving their jobs. The online users were all praises for Shreyas Iyer (Karnataka) and R Ashwin (Tamil Nadu) and one user even gave reference to their native states by tweeting, “Idli and Sambhar is always a good combo”.
Here are some selected Twitter reactions:
The scientist did it. Somehow got this one. Brilliant innings from Ashwin and wonderful partnership with Shreyas Iyer. pic.twitter.com/TGBn29M7Cg
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) December 25, 2022
These knocks of 42*, 29*, and 34 by @ashwinravi99, @ShreyasIyer15, and @akshar2026 might be small in number, but they're huge in stature! Congratulations India on winning the series 👏🏽 Well played to Bangladesh too, gave India proper scare! #BANvIND pic.twitter.com/x30h7WUliW
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) December 25, 2022
Ashwin as a test all rounder is like Gold 👏
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) December 25, 2022
Displaying class under pressure 💯
Take a bow @ashwinravi99 @ShreyasIyer15 🙌— Surya Kumar Yadav (@surya_14kumar) December 25, 2022
Iyer Ashwin Anna Saved these Guys. Dravid ,KL rahul ,Vikram Rathore Should to take them For Dinner ,everyone combine take Virat for dinner as well
"Is match me Jaan Virat Ne hi Daali Hai"
Bounce Back Guys Big Series Coming Back
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣#ViratKohli #INDvsBAN #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/ywAna8e5Vi— CA Mrityunjay Mishra (@hellomjmishra) December 25, 2022
Shreyas Iyer looking confident in defence. Ashwin is a fighter. India will get there. But way too many questions which require answers.
First things first KL Rahul wasn't, isn't and won't be your long term India captain. You don't know who it is but not KL. Certainly not#INDvBAN— Kushan Sarkar (@kushansarkar) December 25, 2022
Shreyas Iyer plays spin the best. Ashwin has the biggest stomach for a fight.
Hence proved once again.@ashwinravi99 @ShreyasIyer15 #IndvBan— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) December 25, 2022
ASHWIN YOU FREAKING CHAMPION!
What level of mental strength this guy possess.
Too good!💪🔥— Sumit Gupta (@sumitg24__) December 25, 2022
Ashwin man you're irreplaceable. We don't respect/value your contribution enough in this format just because you're not an Aussie or English player. Thank you for today. @ashwinravi99
— Biraj Raha (Ved) (@TheDravid_Fan) December 25, 2022
Shreyas Iyer A Strong Contender for all All format Captaincy. Mature gameplay under pressure, good understanding of situation , and a Young player.#Iyer #INDvsBAN #ShreyasIyer #Ashwin pic.twitter.com/X5MiQdI81E
— Kshitij Umarkar Patil (@itsKshitijPatil) December 25, 2022
Ashwin Anna and Shreyas Iyer Today #INDvsBAN pic.twitter.com/isxWBCx5fO
— Nishant Sharma (@srcsmic_enginer) December 25, 2022
Mr. Consistent Shreyas Iyer 🫡🫡🫡
What a Player he is and Now its time to even stop doubting his capabilities
He is soon gonna become India's Favourite Player 🤞🤞— Aman (@Wierdotweets) December 25, 2022
Not all heroes wear capes, some play with bat and save us from humiliation of defeat in test match against Bangladesh.
Kudos to Ravichandran Ashwin and Shreyas Iyer. 🙌
— Varun Kumar Rana (@VarunKrRana) December 25, 2022
These hugs from Rahul Dravid to Shreyas Iyer and Ravi Ashwin tells us this is not a normal win for India. They faced so much difficulty in batting in 2nd innings but the heroes,iyer and Ash Anna came to save us.
Such a beautiful pictures. ❤️#INDvBAN #INDvsBAN pic.twitter.com/JmqqC9ow2Z
— Akshat (@AkshatOM10) December 25, 2022
Ashwin , Shreyas Iyer are so underated in Indian cricket.. They always deliver something #INDvsBAN
— Sugu (@sugu_sword) December 25, 2022
KL and Rahul Dravid should thank all their lives to Ashwin and Shreyas for saving their respective jobs.
— Biraj Raha (Ved) (@TheDravid_Fan) December 25, 2022
India's Highest 8th wicket partnership in 4th Test Inning
74 – Amar Singh/Lall Singh (1932)
71* – Shreyas Iyer/Ravi Ashwin (2022)*#INDvsBAN— CricBeat (@Cric_beat) December 25, 2022
Idli and Sambhar is always a good combo
— Akshat 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 (@AkshatMCFC_47) December 25, 2022
Temperament IYER and our Test MVP Ash saved ICT, “real” fans from embarrassment for ages.
Really happy 😊 ❤️, Merry Christmas 🎄🎁Some relief ( 24 points this series) of what was a total disaster year for Indian Cricket.
Introspection, CLEAN up of system a MANDATE.— CricRoyale (@cricroyale) December 25, 2022
Shreyas Iyer and Ashwin returning to dressing room after defeating Bangladesh 😻🔥#INDvsBAN #ShreyasIyer #ashwin pic.twitter.com/ljIkrcJC4D
— ರಾಮ್_ತೀರ್ಥಹಳ್ಳಿ (@RamThirthahalli) December 25, 2022
While R Ashwin was adjudged as the Player of the Match, Cheteshwar Pujara was adjudged as the Player of the Series, however there were many who felt that Shreyas Iyer deserved to be the Player of the Series. What is your opinion in this regard? Share your views with us.