Fearless and selfless, captain Rohit Sharma inspires India to another famous win

“Teams will probably change the way they look at this Indian Test team,” Ajay Jadeja remarked, marveling at how India raced against time to beat Bangladesh in the Kanpur Test on Tuesday, October 1. India’s victory, achieved effectively within two days, sends a strong message to the chasing pack as they pursue a hat-trick of World Test Championship final berths.
Coaches may change, and personnel may change, but Rohit Sharma’s Indian teams, across all formats, continue to reap the rewards of playing fearless and selfless cricket. Despite being strapped for time due to rain interruptions in the Kanpur Test against Bangladesh, India sprinted to a convincing victory. With two and a half days of play washed out, India still managed to secure the win with nearly two sessions to spare, overwhelming a listless Bangladesh side and completing a 2-0 series victory.
The Kanpur Test appeared to be a continuation of India’s T20 World Cup journey. On Days 4 and 5, it looked like India played T20 cricket. None of the batters feared failure; they executed the team management’s plan to perfection. Bangladesh resumed their first innings only on Day 4. After bundling them out in just over a session on Monday, India adopted a Bazball Pro Max approach.
Kanpur Test: Report | Highlights
In the past, teams might have settled for a draw after two completely rained-out days, playing only to tick off personal milestones. If Rohit Sharma and his men had chosen that route, few would have questioned them. The sub-par drainage facility at Green Park rendered play impossible on Days 2 and 3, even though rain stayed away for most of the daytime. Yet, India demonstrated a strong desire to advance the Test, living up to their status as a champion side.
Speaking on Tuesday, R Ashwin explained how Rohit Sharma walked the talk after telling the dressing room not to hold back and go for the big ones. Rohit himself said that India were prepared to get bowled out for 100-150 and not curtail the aggressive intent in the first innings.
India set five records — fastest team scores of 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 in Tests—scoring 285 for 9 declared at an astonishing rate of 8.22 runs per over, the fastest ever for a team achieving a minimum of 200 runs in an innings.
“Talking is one, but when you see the captain walking the talk, it’s like he has not played one ball down the surface. He moved away, stepped out and tonked the first one for a six. We knew it was going to be ‘Jaisball’ time. We knew he was going to play that way. And when Rohit does that, showing everybody ‘you know what we are going for, it’s not about me wanting to score’.
“You don’t have a choice, but follow it. Even if you are tired, if you want to just take your time, you feel like ‘hey you know what, look at what he did. 3 overs and 50 runs’. You can’t sit back from that point. That is the most defining point – talking about it is one and executing it is a different kettle of fish. That’s what Rohit did,” Ashwin said.
India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel praised Rohit Sharma for leading the charge in India’s first innings. Rohit’s first two scoring shots were massive sixes. Though he faced only 11 deliveries, he inflicted significant damage on the opposition and, more importantly, conveyed to the dressing room that it was acceptable to get out while showing intent.
Rohit Sharma reinvented himself following India’s T20 World Cup disappointment in 2022. He resolved that his team would not fear failure. Supported by former head coach Rahul Dravid, this mindset nearly paid off during the home World Cup in 2023. Rohit emerged as a formidable presence at the top of the order, dismantling the opposition’s new-ball bowlers as early as the powerplay. However, when it mattered most, India faltered, straying from the aggressive style their captain advocated for ODI cricket.
Rohit and Dravid did not give up. Despite the heartbreak of November 19, India approached the T20 World Cup with a similar mindset. Rohit was unstoppable during powerplays, granting his players the freedom to go for the kill. This approach paid off as India ended an 11-year wait for an ICC trophy in men’s cricket.
With Gautam Gambhir, known for his never-say-die attitude, in the mix, it seems India aims to play Test cricket with renewed freedom. Their two-day hustle to win the Kanpur Test serves as a warning to the chasing pack in the World Test Championship standings.
India needs five wins at home to secure their place in the World Test Championship final, with two already ticked off. They have three more matches against New Zealand in October and November. Imagine this ruthless Indian team competing without the burden of the Test Championship standings in Australia! Regardless of the outcome, we are set to be entertained by Rohit’s Men in Whites in the coming months.