Rain-Hit Test Ends in a Draw, India Slip a Spot in Test Rankings

After the drawn game, India now ranked fourth in the ICC Test rankings with England and Pakistan on 97 points each.

Virat Kohli and 

It was the writing on the wall once the thunder showers set in during the first day’s play in Fatullah - Virat Kohli would not get to win his first match as the official Test skipper.

On day five on Sunday, despite R Ashwin’s five-wicket haul and Harbhajan Singh’s record-scaling comeback, the rain-marred one-off Test between India and Bangladesh ended in a draw.

And while Kohli sported a smile on his face while lifting the trophy, the updated ICC rankings released soon after would ensure it would be wiped off pretty soon. India slipping one place in the standings, down to fourth.

India’s captain Virat Kohli shakes hands with Bangladesh’s Tamim Iqbal at the end of the test match in Fatullah. (Photo: AP)

Indian players appeal for an LBW call against Taijul Islam. (Photo: AP)

R Ashwin celebrates with captain Virat Kohli after dismissing Bangladesh’s Shuvagata Hom on the last day of the test. (Photo: AP)

In reply to India’s first innings score of 462 for six, Bangladesh, resuming at 111 for three after the opening session was washed out, faced the ignominy of being shot out for 256 in 65.5 overs -- seven runs short of the follow-on.

While Ashwin, with 5/87 from 25 overs, bamboozled the Bangladeshi batsmen with vicious turn and bounce, Harbhajan (3/64 in 17.5 overs) also justified his inclusion in the side bowling well in patches to become the ninth highest Test wicket-taker in the history of the game, surpassing Pakistan legend Wasim Akram.

Harbhajan Singh celebrates with his teammates after the dismissal of Bangladesh’s Mominul Haque during the fourth day of their test. (Photo: AP)

In fact, Kohli probably wanted to drive home a point by asking Bangladesh to follow-on in what was an inconsequential final hour of play on the fifth day where only two sessions were possible due to overnight rain. When play was finally called off, Bangladesh were 23 for no loss in the 15 overs that were bowled in their second innings.

Bangladesh’s Imrul Kayes plays a shot during the test match against India in Fatullah. (Photo: AP)

For Bangladesh, Imrul Kayes (72) has been the top-scorer but it was young debutant Litton Kumar Das, who played a lovely cameo hitting a quickfire 44 off 45 balls with eight fours and a six before being gobbled by Rohit Sharma at backward short leg off Ashwin. Another youngster Soumya Sarkar (37) also showed his attacking prowess but could not convert his start.

A Bangladesh’s ground staff walks with an umbrella during rain on the field to check rain covers. (Photo: AP)

As a result of the match’s outcome, India have now dropped two points and one place to be at fourth position in the ICC Test team rankings.

The team went into the Test level with New Zealand on 99 points, but the shared points ensured the Kiwis would hold that spot on their own for now. It is now a three-way tie for fourth spot with India, England and Pakistan on 97 points apiece.

Meanwhile, ninth-placed Bangladesh, as a consequence of the draw in Fatullah, have gained two points and moved to 41 points. PTI CM