India vs Bangladesh

After a comprehensive victory of 188 runs over Bangladesh in the first Test at Chattogram, where many players helped them seize the key moments, India were also helped by South Africa's two-day loss to Australia to now be at second place in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) standings.

"The Medical Team is of the opinion that the injury needs some more time to heal completely before the Indian captain can bat and field with full intensity. He will continue his rehab and will not be available for the second and final Test against Bangladesh. "Navdeep Saini is also ruled out of the second Test owing to an abdominal muscle strain. The fast bowler will now report to the NCA for further management of his injury," the BCCI said in statement on Tuesday.

With Rohit not traveling to Dhaka, vice-captain KL Rahul will continue to lead India in the second and final Test of the series which India is currently leading by 1-0, after winning the first Test at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chattogram by 188 runs. The report says news of Rohit's unavailability emerged on Monday (December 19) after it was found that the skipper's thumb has not fully healed and is suffering from a little bit of stiffness.

Nasum has played in four ODIs and 26 T20Is but is yet to play a Test match. He was part of the Bangladesh squad that beat India 2-1 in the preceding three-match ODI series held earlier this month. His selection comes after Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan has been laid low by a shoulder problem, alongside pain in the ribs after being hit in the second ODI against India by a short ball from Umran Malik.

In the match, Bangladesh were bowled out for just 150 in the first innings, conceding a huge first-innings lead of 254, before being bundled for 324 in the second innings in the pursuit of chasing 513. "One (goal) is to compete. We know India are a good side but once again one really bad session with the bat has destroyed our chances in this Test match. I know 400 is a good score but it's manageable in Chittagong."

Rohit had injured his left thumb while fielding in the second ODI against Bangladesh at Dhaka and had to fly back home to Mumbai to see a specialist, causing him to miss the third ODI and first Test. In his absence, Bengal opener Abhimanyu Easwaran was named as a replacement in the Indian squad for the first Test. "About Rohit, I think we will get to know in the next day or two. I am not even aware of it. The focus was completely on the Test match," said KL Rahul in the post-match press conference.

In their first innings on day one, India were reduced to 48/3, before Cheteshwar Pujara, Shreyas Iyer, Ravichandran Ashwin and Kuldeep Yadav chipped in vital contributions with the bat to take the first innings score to 404. Then in defending 513, they had to toil hard for 46 overs before getting a breakthrough and eventually, bowl out Bangladesh for 324 on day five. With the win, India have boosted their hopes of reaching World Test Championship final for a second successive time.

In chasing a mammoth 513, Najmul Hossain Shanto (67) and debutant Zakir Hasan (100) had a 124-run opening partnership, including being wicketless in the first session on day four, giving Bangladesh a glimmer of hope for victory. But post that, wickets fell in heap and despite Shakib making an attacking 84, they were all out for 324 in their second innings of the match.

For India, left-arm spinner Axar took four wickets in the fourth innings, while Kuldeep picked three scalps, followed by Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, and Ravichandran Ashwin taking a wicket each. The win also boosts India's prospect of reaching a second successive World Test Championship final, going past Sri Lanka to be third in the table with 55.77 points percentage.

Now, speaking in the post-match press conference after the end of day four, India bowling coach Paras Mhambrey appreciated Kuldeep for excelling in the format on his comeback and working on everything related to his bowling and stand up for India, like he did at Chattogram.