Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra hailed India’s domination while playing at home. India has been unbeaten in the last 18 Test series at home and last lost a Test series against England, back in 2012. Rohit Sharma’s team registered a 2-0 win against Bangladesh after beating the visitors by seven wickets on Tuesday in the second Test at Green Park, Kanpur.
India has been a force to reckon with while playing in the known conditions. The spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have breathed down the neck of the opposition and it was no different against the Tigers.
The hosts took an ultra-aggressive approach in the first innings as they smashed 285 runs in 34.4 overs after more than two days were lost due to rain. India took a 52-run lead and then skittled out Bangladesh at 146 after a collective bowling effort. The home team then chased down 95 runs with ease, with Yashasvi Jaiswal scoring a fine fifty.
“The first biggest reason is 18 consecutive home series wins. We have done an incredible job. You want to be known for your domination but this is domination of a different kind. Someone or the other comes who pushes you, beats you, or draws against you. Forget about beating you, no one has gone after drawing a series here,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“The domination is continuing for 12 years. We lost last time in 2012. They haven’t lost since then. A lot of players have changed in the last 12 years, the personnel, captain and coaches have changed but what hasn’t changed is our playing style and our dominance,” the former India opener added.
The renowned commentator hailed the spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. Ashwin was awarded Player of the series (his 11th award) for scoring 114 runs in two innings and also taking 11 wickets. Furthermore, Jadeja scored 94 runs in two innings and scalped nine wickets.
“I feel two factors have been very important for this. One is the ability to pick up 20 wickets in bowling, we have that on good pitches as well, especially in these conditions. The rise of Ravichandran Ashwin along with Ravindra Jadeja, because one is close to 525 wickets, with 11 Player of the Series in Tests,” he said.
“He is standing next to Muttiah Muralitharan. This is absolutely incredible. Then you see Ravindra Jadeja – 3000 runs and 300 wickets. When both of them come together, it’s not one plus one two but 11. After that, of course, India’s batting, which includes Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane and Virat Kohli, because you have to turn back a little as we are talking about 18 series,” Chopra observed.
India will next take on Bangladesh in the opening T20I at the New Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium, Gwalior on Sunday.
