Bangladesh 107 for 3 (Mominul 40*, Shanto 31, Akash Deep 2-34) vs India
A start-stop drizzle meant there was no play on the second day of the second Test between India and Bangladesh in Kanpur. The whole ground remained under covers throughout the day. At times, three super-soppers came out, running over the covers, but the ground staff could not do much beyond that.
There was a steady drizzle till around 10am but after that, the rain was so light that had play been in progress, it might have continued. However, there was considerable rain last evening and overnight and that seemed to have done the most damage.
With no chance of an immediate start, the players went back to their hotel around 10.20am. Eventually, at 2pm, the umpires called it off.
Things were only slightly better on the first day. A combination of rain and bad light allowed just 33 overs in which Bangladesh scored 107 for 3. After India won the toss, which itself was delayed by an hour, Rohit Sharma opted to bowl. This is not what India do usually at home; the last time they chose to bowl first in a home Test was nine years ago: against South Africa in Bengaluru in 2015. Coincidentally, that Test was also marred by rain.
Bangladesh openers Zakir Hasan and Shadman Islam survived Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj's opening spells. But Akash Deep dismissed both of them soon after to put India ahead. Mominul Haque and Najmul Hossain Shanto then stabilised the innings before R Ashwin ended their 51-run stand by trapping Shanto lbw. However, before either team could take significant advantage, the weather intervened.
Weather permitting, Shanto is hoping his batters can deliver on day three. "There is day three and four ahead of us and since there is rain and not much sun to be had, in that sense as the game progresses it will be [understood] how challenging the wicket is," he said after day two. "I think we lost one wicket [too many on day one]. The start of the batting innings was good. It's still good. I won't say we are in a bad position. We have many batters left in the dugout.
"From here on, if we can form two big partnerships then we can reach a good position."
